Health and social care under the new government

General election 2015

The new government takes up office with the NHS facing its biggest challenges for many years, while pressures on social care are escalating. Here we present our priorities for the government and other selected commentary and analysis, as the new parliament gets underway.

Completed project

Spending Review 2015

By setting out how much funding will be available up to 2019/20, the Spending Review has defined the context in which health and care services are delivered for the rest of the parliament.

Completed project

Health and social care: the first 100 days of the new government

After 100 days in office, the new government's plans for health and social care are beginning to take shape. Here we explore the measures that have been announced so far.

Three priorities for the new government: health and social care

The challenge for the government will be to strike a balance between addressing unprecedented short-term pressures and initiating the long-term changes needed to place the NHS and social care on a sustainable footing.

From the blog

What have we learnt in the government’s first 100 days?

Chris Ham gives his assessment of the new government’s health policy.

Cuts to public health spending: the falsest of false economies

Back in June, with no prior warning, the Treasury announced that the 2015/16 public health grant to local authorities would be reduced by £200 million. Last week, the Department of Health finally released the consultation on these ‘in-year savings’. So why the delay?

Paying for care: back to square one?

The government’s decision to breach an explicit manifesto commitment by delaying reforms to social care funding until 2020 again demonstrates the apparent inability of successive governments to make headway on this issue.

No more inner Stalin: can Jeremy Hunt deliver his vision for the NHS?

The headlines that preceded Jeremy Hunt’s speech at the Fund may have focused on seven-day working, but what he had to say about his approach to reform is likely to be of greater interest to leaders within the NHS.

The politics of NHS funding and taxation in the new parliament

If promised spending increases do not materialise soon, and ministers insist on the NHS regaining control of its finances, then urgent action will be needed, says Chris Ham.

Re-directing the NHS supertanker?

It may only be five weeks since the general election, but there has already been a veritable blizzard of announcements coming from the Department of Health and national NHS organisations. So many in fact, that it is no mean feat to step back to make sense of it all.

Commentary and analysis

Health policy priorities for a new parliament

This collection of essays, published jointly by the All-Party Parliamentary Health Group and The King’s Fund, maps out health priorities for the next parliament, as seen from the perspective of key stakeholders in the world of health.

Cutting the public health budget will cost the NHS

In the spending cuts announced by the chancellor last week the Department of Health did not entirely escape the knife, losing £200 million from its budget from 'non-NHS' sources. It turns out this source will be local government public health spending.

Social care at a crossroads - The King's Fund's response to the ADASS budget survey

Richard Humphries, Assistant Director of Policy at The King’s Fund, responds to this year's ADASS budget survey.

Only a big increase in NHS funding will guarantee David Cameron's legacy

The Prime Minister could bring back compassionate Conservatism by his support for the NHS, says Chris Ham.

Our response to the appointment of Jeremy Hunt as Secretary of State for Health

Chief Executive of The King's Fund Chris Ham responds to today's appointment of Jeremy Hunt as Secretary of State for Health.

Prospects for the NHS in England in the next parliament: Investment and reform should be at the heart of the new government’s programme

The newly elected Conservative government faces an immediate challenge in keeping the NHS solvent in 2015-16 and a more fundamental challenge of transforming care to better meet the needs of an ageing population. It must also continue to improve patient safety and the quality of care without accentuating financial pressures facing NHS providers.

Event highlights

Jeremy Hunt sets out his 25-year vision for the NHS

Jeremy Hunt, Secretary of State for Health, sets out his vision for the NHS. This includes a continued focus on safety and quality of care, an emphasis on transparency and patient power, and a goal to make the NHS the world’s largest learning organisation.

The first 100 days: what the election result means for health and social care

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Government's first 100 days: Treasury's fingerprints are all over health policy

The Treasury’s influence on government health policy is not surprising in view of the emphasis on deficit reduction and spending controls. So far the health policy can be divided into three major themes, each has their own tensions requiring resolution, writes Chris Ham

Completed project

Health and social care: the first 100 days of the new government

After 100 days in office, the new government's plans for health and social care are beginning to take shape. Here we explore the measures that have been announced so far.

Regulation, targets and transparency: The first 100 days of the new government

The reliance on regulation to drive performance is set to continue, albeit with some subtle but important changes.

The NHS five year forward view: The first 100 days of the new government

The government has signalled strong support for the NHS five year forward view – the vision for the NHS published in October 2014 by NHS England – with the Prime Minister and Secretary of State endorsing it as the ‘NHS’s plan’ for improving services.