The general election will come at a pivotal time for health and social care. An unprecedented funding squeeze has left the NHS on the brink of financial crisis, while reductions in local government funding have led to significant cuts in social care services.
In light of the high number of board-level vacancies in the NHS and an increasing reliance on expensive locum and agency staff, NHS organisations need to have effective strategies in place to develop future leaders. This paper helps boards and other NHS leaders to decide which processes and systems need ...
The fact that health and social care services are currently commissioned separately is a major obstacle to the development of integrated care. Support is growing for a new settlement based on a single ring-fenced budget and a single local commissioner – as recommended by the independent 'Commission on the Future ...
In this paper, we set out our response to the broad direction of reform set out in the white paper, 'Equity and excellence : liberating the NHS' (Department of Health 2010). Our response to the white paper concentrates on the most important elements in these proposals; we will provide further ...
In this response The King’s Fund highlight two pieces of their recent research: “Making shared decision-making a reality: no decision about me, without me” (Coulter and Collins 2012) produced a clear definition of shared decision-making and outlined what steps need to be taken to implement it; and “Patients’ preferences matter: ...
This document gives the King's Fund thoughts on the Communities and Local Government Committee inquiry on the role of local authorities in health issues. The Health and Social Care Act 2012 fundamentally alters the relationship between local government and the NHS. Responsibility for many public health and health improvement functions ...
This consultation response sets out The King's Fund's thoughts on improving dignity in care to the Partnership on Dignity in Care (Age UK, NHS Confederation and Local Government Group). It focuses on the Point of Care programme and Enhancing the Healing Environment projects, drawing attention to insights, argument and evidence ...
As the NHS seeks to move away from competition towards integration and to develop new models of care, individuals and organisations across the health and care system need to learn to work together to make the best use of collective skills and knowledge. This paper offers those who are leading ...
This consultation response includes the following overarching observations. First, it is vital that reform addresses the significant overall underfunding of adult social care and the high levels of unmet need. Second, the challenge is not simply about responding to additional numbers of older people. It is also about addressing the ...