Publications

Discrimination against minorities is prevalent in the NHS, but a climate of inclusion, mutual respect and supportiveness will ensure that the benefits of diversity are gained, writes Michael West.

The short term hotchpot of measures taken by the government does nothing to stem the growing pressures on social care, says Richard Humphries.

We've made a start, and now women in leadership roles, or those aspiring to reach the top, have an opportunity to examine the difficulties, challenges and opportunities ahead, writes Vijaya Nath

We speak to Professor Heather Tierney-Moore OBE, Chief Executive of Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust, about how organisations can gain a more detailed understanding of their culture.

Is enough emphasis and thought devoted to leadership styles, the culture this creates and whether this fully reflects the organisation’s aims and ethos?

The current fragmented system of commissioning is clearly unsustainable. While the idea of integrated commissioning is an old one, the approach to achieving it must be decidedly new, writes Lillie Wenzel.

Now, more than ever, we need a new, comprehensive approach to supporting and implementing change, say Richard Murray and Anita Charlesworth.

With the right local leadership and central government support, localism could help address the broad range of factors that drive health inequalities in a particular area, writes David Buck.

This edition of Public Finance Perspectives explores the strategies needed to align and integrate local public services across traditional organisational boundaries. In his essay, Chris Ham argues that health payment systems are not fit for the purpose of providing integrated, patient-centred care.

Richard Humphries reviews recent policy initiatives to achieve the closer integration of health and social care.

We speak to Tim Kelsey, National Director for Patients and Information at NHS England, about the role of technology in improving care.

As the post-election dust settles, the Queen’s speech confirms that the integration of health and social care continues as a headline policy commitment, with the better care fund and ‘DevoManc’ as flagship policies intended to make this happen. But will they be enough?

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.

Rather than prescribe a one size fits all solution, an approach agreed locally by CCGs and local authorities is the best way forward for integrated care, says Richard Humphries.

This publication was commissioned by the Local Government Association to capture the thoughts of councillors, directors of public health, providers, commissioners, academics and other key opinion formers on the challenges and opportunities devolution could bring in terms of improving the public's health. Read David Buck's chapter.

Successful talent management is an ethos and is core to developing a safe, compassionate culture. Sarah Massie and Katy Steward outline four key components of a successful strategy for developing future leaders

The experience of Blue Cross and Blue Shield in the US offers lessons for the NHS about some of the ingredients needed to improve population health, says Hugh Alderwick.

Social care for older people will be increasingly important as our population ages. So why the silence from politicians?

We speak to writer Nicci Gerrard about her father's hospital care, and her campaign – John's Campaign – that calls for the families and carers of people with dementia to be allowed to remain with them in hospital for as many hours of the day and night as necessary.

If Florence Nightingale worked for the NHS of today, she would be looking outwards to find people to make her wards work better. These people would be system leaders, not just strong leaders of single organisations, says Nick Timmins.