Publications | The King's Fund

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.

A vision for population health: towards a healthier future

A vision for population health: Towards a healthier future

We need to move away from a system just focused on diagnosing and treating illness towards one that is based on promoting wellbeing and preventing ill health. Our report sets out a new vision for population health.

Shared responsibility for health: the cultural change we need

We believe that the relationship between the public and the NHS, and between patients and the staff who care for them, needs to be transformed. As well as ensuring that the resources (funding and workforce) needed to deliver care are available, national and local leaders must work to fully engage patients and the public in improving health and care.

The health care workforce in England: make or break?

In advance of the publication of the NHS long-term plan, this briefing highlights the scale of workforce challenges now facing the health service and the threat this poses to the delivery and quality of care over the next 10 years.

Innovative models of general practice

Innovative models of general practice

We look at innovative models of general practice from the UK and other countries and identify key design features we believe will be important in designing effective GP services in the future.

An alternative day in the life of a GP

What would a day in the life of a GP working in an innovative model of general practice look like? We pull together a typical day based on the experiences of GPs we met in researching Innovative models of general practice.

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.

Hypothecated funding for health and social care: how might it work?

Hypothecated funding for health and social care is back on the political agenda. This paper sets out the problems hypothecation is meant to solve – and the conditions under which it might do so – and provides a brief history of hypothecation in the UK.

Data in the NHS

Using data in the NHS: the implications of the opt-out and GDPR

Harry Evans explores the use of data in the NHS, the systems in place for protecting it and what GDPR and the opt-out might mean for the future.

'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.

A fork in the road: next steps for social care funding reform

This report published jointly with the Health Foundation pulls together new financial modelling, public perceptions work and policy analysis to identify the problems with adult social care in England and outline options for its reform.

Transformational change in health and care: reports from the field

We interviewed 42 people who were involved in leading, supporting, delivering, receiving or witnessing transformational change. Our report shares their experiences and reflections.

Spending on and availability of health care resources: how does the UK compare to other countries?

The recent announcement by the Prime Minister to bring forward a new long-term funding settlement for the NHS means it is timely to look at how health spending in the UK compares to other countries and how the NHS measures up on some of the key resources this spending pays for.

Cross-party approach to the NHS and social care

When MPs from different parties come together to argue for more funding for the NHS and social care then it's time to sit up and take notice, says Chris Ham.

Rising cost of medicines teaser image

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.

The Montefiore Health System in New York: integrated care and the fight for social justice

The Montefiore Health System in the Bronx, New York, has found ways of helping even the most deprived by stepping beyond the bounds of conventional health services.

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.

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.