Publications

This briefing explores some of the questions and issues relating to practice-based commissioning in England, examines the pace of implementation and offers some analysis of the impact – current and future – on NHS services.

The King's Fund and Commonwealth Fund sponsored a seminar bringing together leading policymakers, clinicians and academics from England and the USA to share experiences.

This briefing examines the recent debate over hospital configuration in England; describes what changes are currently being proposed together with the main factors driving these changes; and sets out the process by which services can be reconfigured.

Tony Harrison and Ian Gilmore ask whether more care at home and new 'polyclinics' will spell the end of district general hospitals?

Imagine being able to see the future and assess health needs and the repercussions of policy initiatives. Windmill 2007 did that and found some valuable pointers.

At the dawn of a new political administration, The King's Fund Chief Executive Niall Dickson examines the issues likely to dominate health debate in the coming months.

Despite receiving widespread support, implementation of practice-based commissioning (PBC) has been slow. This report explores the current situation for PBC and considers how it might be driven forward within the NHS.

This briefing outlines the main points in the 2007/8 Operating Framework, provides some analysis of the content and discusses the implications of the accompanying documents.

This qualitative study explores GPs' views on their role in supporting patient choice at the point of referral, their views on Choose and Book and equity in choice.

Jo Maybin says ministers face a struggle to win over sceptics about NHS reform.

The lack of a 'big picture' of where NHS reforms will take us means investment and strategic planning are severely hampered. Alasdair Liddell and Laurie McMahon describe a behavioural modelling approach that can help.

Amid increasing independent and voluntary sector involvement in NHS service delivery this report highlights issues that the government and health service providers in all three sectors should address.

How much should be spent on social care for older people over the next 20 years, and what funding arrangements are needed? Our report sets out the findings of the Wanless Social Care Review.

Niall Dickson argues that there is now a glimmer of hope that care really can be transformed. But the details of the Wanless report and other recent studies show just how big and deep-rooted the current problems are.

Financial instability is just one reason for failure in the NHS. This paper explores how failure can be prevented or managed, while protecting the quality of patient care and restoring viability.

How will primary care be affected by the changing role of primary care trusts and the introduction of both practice-based commissioning and competition between providers?

This paper responds to the government's White Paper that aims to redesign community health and social care services.

We look at London's care market, examining trends in its population profile and in the resources and services available for older people in our paper.

This report assesses the policy initiatives the government has taken to address waiting list numbers and waiting times, and explores what should be done next.

We review patients' perceptions about managing their own long-term conditions, and identify how primary care trusts and other health and social care providers can best support them in line with their individual needs.