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.

Community health services explained

Community services play a key role in keeping people well, treating and managing acute illness and long-term conditions, and supporting people to live independently – and yet they are poorly understood compared to other parts of the NHS. In this explainer we set out what community services are, the challenges faced and how they're changing.

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.

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.

Talking leadership: insights from our work with Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Joan Milne and David Naylor talk about their experience of commissioning and running the Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH) leadership development programme.

Getting the most from technology requires pathway redesign

Test bed initiatives show that, beyond technology, pathway transformation is what leads to the real change.

Delayed transfers of care: a quick guide

Why do delayed transfers of care occur? And what is the impact on the wider health system? We answer some key questions.

Brexit

Brexit: the implications for health and social care

The UK’s vote to leave the EU will have major implications for health and social care in England. We examine the key issues that need to be considered as the government negotiates the UK’s future relationship with the EU.

NHS England throws down challenge to government

The NHS may have to restrict what it provides with its budget, says Chris Ham.

Enhanced health in care homes: learning from experiences so far

This report looks at experiences so far in the areas of England working on delivering enhanced health in care homes.

Evidence and consultation

The King’s Fund response to the Mayor of London’s draft health inequalities strategy

We find that the draft strategy is a good start, but we believe as it is finalised its commitments need to be more tightly focused on inequality reduction than they currently are.

Patient involvement: Paul’s story

Paul Radin speaks to us about his experience of patient involvement at The King’s Fund.

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.