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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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Getting It Right First Time report
Report

Tackling variations in clinical care: assessing the Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme

The Getting It Right First Time (GIRFT) programme aims to bring about higher-quality care in hospitals, at lower cost, by reducing unwanted variations in services and practices.
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By Nicholas Timmins - 28 June 2017
Report

Organising care at the NHS front line: who is responsible?

What are the challenges facing frontline clinicians today and what could they do to improve the quality of care? Our report presents a range of views from clinicians, managers, quality improvement champions and patients.
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By Professor Sir Chris Ham et al - 3 May 2017
Article

Organising care at the NHS front line

Quality improvement is best led not by regulators but by those who care for patients, say Chris Ham and Don Berwick
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By Professor Sir Chris Ham et al - 3 May 2017
Article

Political crisis in the NHS

The government should heed the warning signs and embark on fundamental reform.
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By Professor Sir Chris Ham - 17 January 2017
Demand and activity
Long read

How hospital activity in the NHS in England has changed over time

Why is the NHS struggling to maintain standards of care despite increased funding? Demand for services is rising.
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By David Maguire et al - 20 December 2016
Commissioned report

The economics of housing and health: The role of housing associations

The National Housing Federation commissioned The King's Fund and the New NHS Alliance to produce this independent report looking at the economic case for linking housing and health.
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By David Buck et al - 20 September 2016
Article

Why the NHS needs a quality improvement strategy: Chris Ham in conversation with Don Berwick

In this Q&A feature, Chris Ham speaks to Don Berwick about why he thinks that now is the right time for a quality improvement strategy in the NHS.
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By Don Berwick - 22 August 2016
Commissioned report

Strategic quality improvement: An action learning approach

This case study, co-produced with Oxleas NHS Foundation Trust, looks at how to use an action learning approach to assess current and develop future quality improvement strategies.
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By Vijaya Nath - 25 May 2016
Article

The Fourth Whitehall Lecture: What needs to be done to secure the future of the NHS? Lecture given by Chris Ham to the Cambridge Whitehall Group on 9 December 2015

Lecture given by Chris Ham to the Cambridge Whitehall Group on 9 December 2015.
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By Professor Sir Chris Ham - 7 April 2016
Report

Improving quality in the English NHS: A strategy for action

Our report, which calls for a single quality improvement strategy for the NHS in England, offers 10 design principles to guide the development of the strategy. However, the authors warn, it will take time for such a strategy to deliver results.
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By Professor Sir Chris Ham et al - 23 February 2016
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