Publications | The King's Fund

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.

A funding boost for the NHS in England

Now the government must decide how to fund social care, says Chris Ham.

Caring to change: how compassionate leadership can stimulate innovation in health care

This paper looks at compassion as a core cultural value of the NHS and how compassionate leadership results in a working environment that encourages people to find new and improved ways of doing things.

Organising care at the NHS front line: who is responsible?

What are the challenges facing frontline clinicians today and what could they do to improve the quality of care? Our report presents a range of views from clinicians, managers, quality improvement champions and patients.

Organising care at the NHS front line

Quality improvement is best led not by regulators but by those who care for patients, say Chris Ham and Don Berwick

'Golden opportunites' for the NHS are not straightforward

In this article for Public Finance, Richard Murray considers the question of whether the NHS could borrow money from the private sector.

HIV services in England

The future of HIV services in England: shaping the response to changing needs

This report explores the challenges and opportunities facing HIV services in four areas in England, and makes recommendations on future development to those in national and local leadership roles.

Population health

What does improving population health really mean?

Everybody in NHS policy seems to be talking about population health. But what does it really mean and how can we improve it?

Supporting leaders to deliver transformational change: Nicola Walsh on our work with communities

How can leaders collaborate to deliver sustainability and transformation plans and implement new care models? Nicola Walsh discusses our work supporting leaders to develop new ways of working.

Online support: investigating the role of public online forums in mental health

This report explores whether machine learning can help find wider meaning in millions of unstructured online conversations about mental health.

Next steps on the NHS five year forward view: ambitions in the plan will be challenging to deliver

In this article published in the British Medical Journal, Chris Ham reflects on the ambitions outlined in the NHS delivery plan.

Public satisfaction with the NHS in 2016

In 2016 the NHS remained popular with the public. In particular, the public values a system that provides high-quality, comprehensive services that are free at the point of use.

Talking leadership: Allison Trimble on building leaders’ authority

Allison Trimble discusses the challenges leaders in health and care face when they begin to grow their influence, and how they can overcome them.

Talking leadership: Marcus Powell on our seventh annual leadership and management summit

Fifteen months on from joining The King’s Fund, Marcus Powell, Director of Leadership and Organisational Development, reflects on the challenges facing leaders across health and care.

Sustainability and transformation plans for the NHS in England: what do they say and what happens next?

Plans for the future of health and care services in England hold promise but need time, investment, and a dose of realism, say Hugh Alderwick and Chris Ham.

Health care funding models

How health care is funded

The way that health care is funded varies between different countries. Here we explain the main models used in their purest form, although most countries typically use a combination of these methods.

Inspiring leadership: Kate’s story

We talk to Kate Bones, whose experience of taking part in our Athena programme has left a lasting impression.

Smoker and non-smoker

Understanding NHS financial pressures: how are they affecting patient care?

Severe financial pressures on the NHS show no signs of easing, but how are they affecting patient care?

Spring budget: cash for social care and a green paper on future funding

The government has bought some time to find a sustainable solution for social care, say Chris Ham and Richard Humphries.

How is the NHS performing? March 2017: Quarterly Monitoring Report

More patients with complex conditions is the main reason for worsening performance in A&E departments, according to the 22nd quarterly monitoring report from The King's Fund.

Talking leadership: Sally Hulks on organisational development in the NHS

Sally Hulks discusses the importance of organisational development in fostering compassionate, collaborative leadership and developing cultures for high-quality care.

Delivering sustainability and transformation plans: from ambitious proposals to credible plans

STPs offer the best hope for the NHS and its partners to sustain services and transform the delivery of health and care, but how will STP footprints transform their plans into reality? Our report identifies the challenges that lie ahead.

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.