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Independent research and analysis on health and social care

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Critical care teaser
Long read

Critical care services in the English NHS

Critical care capacity has been described as ‘the number to watch’ during the Covid-19 (coronavirus) outbreak. This updated explainer looks at the number of critical care beds, how critical care units work and how they are staffed.
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By Siva Anandaciva - 25 November 2020
Patient in hospital bed
Report

NHS hospital bed numbers: past, present, future

The number of NHS hospital beds in England has more than halved over the past 30 years. This briefing examines the data on hospital beds, explores the drivers underpinning the changes observed and considers whether STPs’ proposed bed reductions are realistic.
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By Leo Ewbank et al - 26 March 2020
Long read

The NHS long-term plan explained

On 7 January, the NHS long-term plan was published setting out key ambitions for the service over the next 10 years. In this explainer, we set out the main commitments in the plan and provide our view of what they might mean, highlighting the opportunities and challenges for the health and care system as it moves to put the plan into practice.
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By Anna Charles et al - 23 January 2019
Report

Approaches to better value: improving quality and cost

The NHS is increasingly focusing on how it can improve the value of its services, to deliver the highest quality health outcomes for patients at the lowest possible cost. This report shares learning and insight from three NHS hospital trusts that have developed organisation-wide strategies for value improvement.
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By Joni Jabbal et al - 4 October 2018
Commissioned report

Understanding factors that enabled digital service change in general practice during the Covid-19 pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic prompted rapid uptake of existing digital technologies to deliver patient care differently in general practice. This report looks at how services changed and the digital tools and services that were used to facilitate that change
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By Beccy Baird et al - 10 February 2021
Digital long read teaser
Long read

The digital revolution: eight technologies that will change health and care

The Covid-19 pandemic has seen many health and care services turn to digital technology to continue meeting patients’ needs. But beyond remote consultations, what are the key technologies to look out for in the future?
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By Pritesh Mistry - 13 November 2020
Commissioned report

Technology and innovation for long-term health conditions

It has become received wisdom that the NHS struggles to adopt digital innovation, but during the Covid-19 pandemic, many NHS providers have moved services online at astonishing pace. Ben Collins looks at four digital innovations in health services from the UK and the Nordic countries.
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By Ben Collins - 3 August 2020
Commissioned report

Volunteering in ambulance services: developing and diversifying opportunities

Commissioned by the Office for Civil Society, this report explores the role and value of volunteering within ambulance services in England and identifies examples of different ways in which volunteering opportunities are being developed.
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By Helen Gilburt - 30 May 2019
Report

Clicks and mortar: Technology and the NHS estate

Financial pressures and growing demand mean that health and social care services will need to work differently. This report reviews how technology in the NHS estate is currently being used, and imagines how the 'estate of the future' might look.
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By Lillie Wenzel et al - 21 May 2019
Some of the many ways in which volunteers can improve patients' experience in hospital
Commissioned report

The role of volunteers in the NHS: views from the front line

Commissioned by Royal Voluntary Service and Helpforce, this report looks at the perceptions of frontline NHS staff working in acute care about the operational pressures they face, how they understand the roles and value of volunteers and what gaps there are that volunteers could help fill.
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By Shilpa Ross et al - 4 December 2018
CQC impact
Report

Impact of the Care Quality Commission on provider performance: room for improvement?

The CQC introduced a new approach to inspecting and rating health and social care providers in 2013. Our report with the Alliance Manchester Business School is the first major evaluation of this approach.
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By Rachael Smithson et al - 27 September 2018
Report

The NHS at 70: What will new technology mean for the NHS and its patients?

Technology is rarely the saviour of health services in the way that politicians hope – at least in the short term. It takes time to implement, requires shifts in workforce, and investment – posing real dilemmas for a cash-strapped NHS.
By Sophie Castle-Clarke - 28 June 2018
Article

Digital change is priceless

In light of recent announcements, Harry Evans argues it is now time for the NHS to step out of the shadow of past implementation failures.
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By Harry Evans - 28 June 2018
Digital change
Report

Digital change in health and social care

The use of digital technology in health and social care can improve quality, efficiency and patient experience as well as supporting more integrated care and improving the health of a population. This report shares practical learning from a series of case studies where significant large-scale digital change is happening.
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By David Maguire et al - 21 June 2018
Data in the NHS
Long read

Using data in the NHS: the implications of the opt-out and GDPR

Harry Evans explores the use of data in the NHS, the systems in place for protecting it and what GDPR and the opt-out might mean for the future.
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By Harry Evans - 25 May 2018
Commissioned report

Housing and health: opportunities for sustainability and transformation partnerships

This short report, supported by the National Housing Federation, sets out areas where sustainability and transformation partnerships and emerging integrated care systems can make more of the contribution of the housing sector to improving health.
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By David Buck et al - 22 March 2018
Volunteering in general practice
Report

Volunteering in general practice: opportunities and insights

Interest is growing in the contribution that volunteering can make in health and social care. This paper examines the ways in which volunteers are involved with, and are contributing to, general practice.
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By Helen Gilburt et al - 7 February 2018
Long read

Adoption and spread of innovation in the NHS

Ben Collins reflects on opportunities to accelerate the adoption of service innovation in the NHS, drawing on findings from eight case studies of successful spread of innovation in the NHS.
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By Ben Collins - 16 January 2018
Article

Talking leadership: insights from our work with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Joan Milne and David Naylor talk about their experience of commissioning and running the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) leadership development programme.  
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By David Naylor et al - 10 January 2018
Article

Getting the most from technology requires pathway redesign

Test bed initiatives show that, beyond technology, pathway transformation is what leads to the real change.
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By Harry Evans - 10 January 2018
Report

Embedding a culture of quality improvement

Our report explores the factors that have helped NHS organisations launch and sustain a quality improvement strategy.
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By Joni Jabbal - 9 November 2017
Article

What is happening to waiting times in the NHS?

We examine the big issues and recent NHS performance on waiting times.
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By Siva Anandaciva et al - 8 November 2017
Report

Making the case for quality improvement: lessons for NHS boards and leaders

At a time of significant financial and operational pressure, local and national NHS leaders need to focus on improving quality and delivering better-value care. We make the case for quality improvement and share lessons for NHS boards and leaders.
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By Hugh Alderwick et al - 11 October 2017
Report

Quality improvement in mental health

Quality improvement has a role to play in improving the quality of care in mental health services. Our report looks at what organisations need to do to implement a quality improvement approach effectively and the benefits this can bring.
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By Shilpa Ross et al - 20 July 2017
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