Community services

Our work on NHS care delivered in a community setting

Supporting the Healthy New Towns programme

We are working with NHS England and other partners to support the Healthy New Towns programme. The programme provides an important opportunity to learn how local areas can use major new housing developments as an opportunity to promote population health and deliver integrated care.

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.

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.

Understanding quality in district nursing services: Learning from patients, carers and staff

This report investigates what good district nursing care looks like and looks at the growing demand capacity gap in district nursing and the worrying impact that this is having on services, the workforce and the quality and safety of patient care.

A significant moment for general practice

A new five-year contract for general practice has been announced, with an increase in funding and plans to transform GP services. Beccy Baird and Anna Charles give their take on the key things you need to know.

The King's Fund welcomes the new contract for general practice

The King's Fund welcomes the new contract for general practice as a promising early sign that the government and NHS England are making good on the commitments in the NHS long-term plan.

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.

Social prescribing: a part of something bigger

Beccy Baird highlights how social prescribing must fit within a well-connected and sufficiently-funded system if it is to be successful.

Donna Hall

Donna Hall: the Wigan story

The Wigan Deal is a social contract between the council and the community — a partnership between citizen and state. Chris Ham talks with Donna Hall, Chief Executive of Wigan Council, about what happened in Wigan.

Tom Coffey: London's commitment to social prescribing

Hear about the Mayor of London's social prescribing strategy and plans for implementation.

Zoe Williams: The future for general practice using social prescribing

GP Dr Zoe Williams speaks at the closing plenary of our event in November 2018, Social prescribing: coming of age.

Bogdan Chiva Giurca: Engaging the future workforce in social prescribing

Bogdan Chiva Giurca, Founder and Chair, NHS England National Social Prescribing Student Champion Scheme, speaks at our event on November 2018, Social prescribing: coming of age.

Rt Hon Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care: Keynote address

Rt Hon Matt Hancock, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, gives the keynote address at our event in November 2018, Social prescribing: coming of age.

How can community involvement reduce health inequalities?

Can community involvement in Morecambe Bay help reduce health inequalities that have existed over decades?

Planning for a national centre for arts and health

Sarah Gregory explores the issues around co-producing a plan to establish a national centre for arts and health.

What can cities in England learn from other countries about population health?

As we publish a new report on population health, Chris Naylor asks whether it is time for cities to have more powers to improve the health of their populations.

The role of cities in improving population health: international case studies

Highlights from some of the international locations featured in our report on the role of cities in improving population health. Read about the work being done in each city and the conditions that have enabled it.

The role of cities in improving population health: international insights

Drawing on international case studies, this report explores the role of cities in improving population health and the conditions needed for success.

2018 GSK IMPACT Awards: WILD Young Parents Project

WILD Young Parents Project supports young parents in Cornwall to make healthy, safe and happy choices for them and their children.

2018 GSK IMPACT Awards: Unseen

Unseen works towards a world without slavery through supporting survivors and vulnerable people.

2018 GSK IMPACT Awards: Sickle Cell Society

Sickle Cell Society supports and represents people affected by sickle cell disorder, and their families, to improve their quality of life.

Social prescribing: coming of age

Caring for people with learning disabilities: the importance of support in the right place

Multiple unhealthy risk factors: why they matter and how practice is changing

Harry Evans discusses why we need to take a holistic approach to supporting behaviour change and looks at how services are innovating to tackle multiple unhealthy risk factors.

General practice: Our work on GPs and general practice

Adult social care: Our work on social care policy, services and reform

Social prescribing reading list

A selected list of references held by The King's Fund library.