Publications | The King's Fund

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.

A year of integrated care systems: reviewing the journey so far

Integrated care systems represent a fundamental and far-reaching change in how the NHS works across different services and with external partners. This report is based on interviews with eight of the ‘first wave’ ICSs to understand how they are developing and to identify lessons for local systems and national policy-makers.

The NHS 10-year plan: how should the extra funding be spent?

The government has announced increases in NHS funding and has asked the NHS to come up with a 10-year plan for how this funding will be used. After eight years of austerity, there is now an opportunity to tackle the issues that matter most to patients and communities and to improve health and care.

The public and the NHS: what's the deal?

In March 2018 The King’s Fund and Ipsos MORI carried out a series of discussion events with the public to explore people's views on the relationship between the public and the NHS. This report sets out the findings.

An international perspective on developing new models of care in the PACS vanguards

In this extract from our NHS England-commissioned report on developing new models of care in the PACS vanguards, Don Berwick offers an international perspective.

Developing new models of care in the PACS vanguards: a new national approach to large-scale change?

For this report we invited those who have led the development of the PACS model, nationally and locally, to reflect on the process of being part of the programme, and of trying to bring about complex change in local systems.

Evidence and consultation

Local authority public health prescribed activity call for evidence: The King's Fund response

David Buck responds on behalf of The King's Fund to the Department of Health and Social Care's local authority public health prescribed activity call for evidence.

Does the public see tax rises as the answer to NHS funding pressures?

We have analysed the latest data from the British Social Attitudes survey on public attitudes to NHS funding and the quality of care provided by the NHS.

Talking leadership: clinicians leading transformational change

Taj Hassan answers questions about how clinicians are contributing to transformational change in the NHS.

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.

QMR25

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.

Tackling multiple unhealthy risk factors: emerging lessons from practice

Our report shares learning and insight from services that are using innovative ways to address the problem of multiple unhealthy behaviours – around tobacco use, alcohol consumption, diet and physical activity – in the population.

Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2017

Public satisfaction with the NHS and social care in 2017

Public satisfaction with the NHS overall has dropped sharply in the past year and dissatisfaction is at its highest level since 2007.

Commissioner perspectives on working with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector

This report explores how and why clinical commissioning groups and local authorities are engaging with the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector.

Making sense of integrated care systems, integrated care partnerships and accountable care organisations in the NHS in England

NHS England has recently changed the name of accountable care systems to integrated care systems. Our updated long read looks at work underway and makes sense of all the terminology.

Health care funding models

Approaches to social care funding

It is widely accepted that the system for funding social care is in urgent need of reform, but there is little sign of a long-term solution on the horizon. In this report we consider five different approaches, setting out the implications of each.

Diagram showing the four main approaches to working with communities in improving health.

Communities and health

The role of communities in improving population health is receiving increasing, and long overdue, attention in health policy and practice. This piece gives an overview of the different approaches to working with communities for health.

Volunteering in general practice

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.

How have public attitudes to the NHS changed over the past three decades?

What can data from 34 years of the British Social Attitudes survey tell us about the public's relationship with the NHS and how it is viewed alongside other publicly funded services? We reflect on the top four issues.

Reimagining community services: making the most of our assets

This report looks at the current organisation of community health services and considers how the health and care system needs to change to meet the needs of populations now and in the future.

Accountable care explained

Accountable care is the latest health policy buzz phrase. But where did it come from and what does it really mean?

Making sense of accountable care

Chris Ham answers key questions about accountable care: what it is, how it is being implemented and what it has achieved.

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.

Funding and staffing of NHS mental health providers: still waiting for parity

Our report finds that the spending gap between NHS acute hospitals and NHS mental health providers is widening.

Blog: Comment and analysis on the key issues in health and social care

All blog posts from The King's Fund.

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.