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Independent research and analysis on health and social care

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  • Health and care services
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Brexit
Long read

Brexit and the end of the transition period: what does it mean for the health and care system?

On Christmas Eve 2020 a new EU-UK trade and co-operation deal was agreed. Jonathon Holmes looks at what the new deal means for the health and care system.
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By Jonathon Holmes - 11 January 2021
Long read

The next steps towards integrated care

This explainer considers NHS England and NHS Improvement’s proposals to further integrate health and care services and describes the associated proposals for legislative change.
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By Richard Murray et al - 9 December 2020 11-minute read
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

Quarterly monitoring report (QMR) 29: how is the NHS performing?

Covid-19 has dramatically altered how NHS services and finances operate. Our 29th QMR looks at where the NHS expected to be at the end of 2019/20, where it actually finds itself in 2020/21, and what impact Covid-19 might have in the future.
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By Siva Anandaciva - 6 August 2020
Report

How is the NHS performing? July 2019 quarterly monitoring report

This is the 28th QMR, which takes stock of what has happened over the past few months with NHS financial and operational performance in England.
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By Siva Anandaciva et al - 9 July 2019
Commissioned report

Measuring general practice productivity

With a rising workload, general practice in England is under significant pressure. This study developed and tested a measure of effectiveness in general practice known as the general practice effectiveness tool.
By Jeremy Dawson et al - 21 February 2019
QMR27
Report

How is the NHS performing? December 2018 quarterly monitoring report

Eight out of ten NHS trust finance directors say that funding pressures have led to longer waiting times for people who need mental health treatment, finds our latest quarterly monitoring report.
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By Siva Anandaciva et al - 21 December 2018
Long read

Amending the 2012 Act: can it be done?

The Health and Social Care Act 2012 is widely seen as dysfunctional, getting in the way of the more integrated care it actually seeks to achieve. As the Prime Minister has once again opened the door to changes, this piece identifies some of the current problems and implications of change, and asks how far progress could be made within the existing legislation.
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By Nicholas Timmins - 25 October 2018
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
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
How is the NHS performing? June 2018
Report

How is the NHS performing? June 2018 quarterly monitoring report

Although we have technically moved out of winter, the latest performance data paints a picture of continuing pressure on NHS staff and services. While A&E departments understandably received much of the focus over the winter months, a quieter decline continues in waiting times for planned (elective) care.
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By Siva Anandaciva et al - 10 July 2018
Evidence and consultation

APPG on Mental Health inquiry: into the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health

This consultation response is our contribution to the APPG on Mental Health inquiry into the Five Year Forward View for Mental Health.
19 June 2018
Article

An open letter: a long-term funding settlement for the NHS

An open letter to the Prime Minister from The King's Fund, The Nuffield Trust and The Health Foundation about a long-term funding settlement for the NHS.
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By Professor Sir Chris Ham et al - 6 June 2018
Report

'The world's biggest quango' the first five years of NHS England

Nicholas Timmins explores the fate of one of the central provisions of the Health and Social Care Act, NHS England, established as a statutorily independent board with the aim of distancing politicians from the day-to-day running of the NHS.
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By Nicholas Timmins - 24 May 2018
Rising cost of medicines teaser image
Report

The rising cost of medicines to the NHS: what’s the story?

In the face of rising costs, the NHS is grappling with how to provide access to medicines in an affordable way. Our new briefing explores the NHS’s approach to managing its spending on medicines and choices that policy-makers are likely to face in future.
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By Leo Ewbank et al - 26 April 2018
QMR25
Report

How is the NHS performing? March 2018 quarterly monitoring report

We find that more patients are facing long waits for hospital treatment, with many of those experiencing the longest waits often most in need. And with demand for services continuing to rise it's very unlikely that meeting waiting time targets will become more achievable.
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By Richard Murray et al - 8 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

NHS England throws down challenge to government

The NHS may have to restrict what it provides with its budget, says Chris Ham.
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By Professor Sir Chris Ham - 11 December 2017
Test 2
Report

How is the NHS performing? November 2017: Quarterly Monitoring Report

Performance against a number of key indicators is worse than at this time last year, and finances remain precarious despite an emergency funding injection.
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By Siva Anandaciva et al - 3 November 2017
Article

State of health and care in England

Services are at full stretch and struggling to maintain standards, says Chris Ham.
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By Professor Sir Chris Ham - 17 October 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
Priorities for health and care
Long read

What are the priorities for health and social care?

Ahead of the party conference season, we assess the state of health and social care and set out the big issues facing the government.
8 August 2017
Long read

The capped expenditure process explained

In response to significant financial pressures in the NHS, a capped expenditure process has been introduced to provide tighter controls on spending. We explain how the process works and what it involves.
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By Siva Anandaciva - 29 June 2017
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Health and care explained: How does the health and care system work? How is it changing?

This selection of content aims to make sense of the health and care system – including videos, articles, illustrated summaries and more.

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