How is the NHS performing?

"This is the 20th report and aims to take stock of what has happened over the past quarter and to assess the state of the health and care system. It provides an update on how the NHS is coping as it continues to grapple with productivity and reform challenges under continued financial pressure."

How is the NHS performing? September 2016: Quality Monitoring report
R Murray, J Jabbal, J Thompson, D Maguire
The King's Fund
September 2016

Read more here.

Why the NHS needs a quality improvement strategy: Chris Ham in conversation with Don Berwick

"Don Berwick is an International Visiting Fellow at The King’s Fund. He led a review into patient safety for David Cameron in 2013, and is recognised as an authority on health care improvement. Chris Ham asks him why he thinks that now is the right time for a quality improvement strategy."

Read the Q & A from the King's Fund here.

Deficits in the NHS 2016

"This briefing draws on data from our quarterly monitoring reports, secondary research and interviews with health care leaders to consider commissioner and provider finances in the round and to provide an overview of the factors that have led to the NHS going into deficit. It goes on to outline some of the strategies being employed to restore financial balance, before drawing together our thoughts on the implications of these strategies for the NHS this year and in the longer term."

Deficits in the NHS 2016
P Dunn, H McKenna, R Murray
The King's Fund
July 2016

Read more here.

Foundation trust and NHS trust mergers 2010 to 2015

"Our review paints a picture of a highly centralised and politicised system where providers pursue mergers at the instigation of national bodies, often in pursuit of foundation trust status or in response to financial or clinical failure. Hard-pressed NHS leaders appear to be betting the farm on mergers for severely challenged providers, typically after a range of alternative strategies have been attempted.

This is despite the paucity of evidence that mergers offer lasting solutions for challenged hospitals. Our review has highlighted the length of time, costs and risks involved in mergers. Others have shown that mergers are unlikely to deliver the intended benefits."

Foundation trust and NHS trust mergers 2010 to 2015
B Collins
The King's Fund
September 2015

Read more here.

The health of health finances

"It is clear that the NHS faces severe financial challenges. Are the Government’s plans to deal with them adequate? This paper reviews the evidence by looking at recent financial results and forecasts and the pressures they indicate; making comparisons with trends in spending levels; and analysing the specific pressures likely in future years."

The health of health finances: CIPFA Briefing
The Chartered Institute of Public Finance & Accountancy
August 2015

Read more here.

Effects of alternative tax structures on public health systems

"Progressive tax policies within a pro-poor framework might accelerate progress toward achieving major international health goals."

Financing universal health coverage - effects of alternative tax structures on public health systems: cross-national modelling in 89 low-income and middle-income countries
A Reeves, Y Gourtsoyannis, S Basu, D McCoy, M McKee, D Stuckler
The Lancet
Published online: May 14, 2015

Read more here.

Health and social care priorities for the Government: 2015-2020

"As part of our role to deliver evidence to support better health policy, the Nuffield Trust has produced this briefing, which outlines 10 key health and social care priorities for the new Government."

Health and social care priorities for the Government: 2015-2020
Nuffield Trust
June 2015

Read more here.

Funding overview: NHS finances

"While administration costs are falling, investment in management is crucial for an organisation of the size of the NHS. It more difficult to implement and embed new ways of working, and to achieve ongoing productivity savings, in an under-managed system."

Funding overview: NHS finances
T Lloyd, B Gershlick, S Lafond, A Roberts
The Health Foundation
January 2015

Read more here.

Three tests for a credible health policy

"In order to meet this enormous challenge, there is consensus that over the next five years the NHS in England needs to focus on three aims:

1. maintaining and improving care quality now
2. transforming the way care is delivered for the future
3. achieving financial balance."

Three tests for a credible health policy
The Health Foundation
February 2015

Read more here.

International responses to austerity

"Financial crisis provides a window of opportunity and stimulus for reform."

Evidence scan 22: International responses to austerity
J Ellins, S Moore, M Lawrie, O Jackson, D Mann, K Singh, R Dam
The Health Foundation
September 2014

Read more here.

Click here to read a summary from The Commissioning Elf.

Exploring the commissioning of personalisation within a capitated budget model

"This document describes the findings of a round table event to look at how capitated budgets for people with complex health needs could support personal budgets for people with two or more long term conditions."

Exploring the commissioning of personalisation within a capitated budget model
NHS Improving Quality
July 2014

Read more here.

Estimating NHS and social care spend: a tool for commissioners

"This tool estimates how a local care economy spends its money by age group, patient group and care settings."

Estimating NHS and social care spend: a tool for commissioners
Monitor
September 2014

Access the tools here.

How is the NHS performing?

"The Quarterly monitoring report combines publicly available data on selected NHS performance measures with views from NHS finance directors and clinical commissioning group (CCG) finance leads."

How is the NHS performing? Quarterly monitoring report
J Appleby, J Thompson, J Jabbal
The King's Fund
July 2014

Read more here.

Essential Reading list: Programme Budgeting and Marginal Analysis (PBMA)

“Essential Reading” is a series of reading lists on specifc themes relevant to our Right Care programme themes. They provide you with a rapid introduction to the subject and access to knowledge which will change your thinking." The subject of this list is programme budgeting and marginal analysis.

Access the reading list here.

Framework for integrating health and social services

"This issue brief describes three essential components for integrating health, including physical and behavioral health services and public health, and social services:

1. a coordinating mechanism
2. quality measurement and data-sharing tools, and
3. aligned financing and payment"

A state policy framework for integrating health and social services
T McGinnis, M Crawford, SA Somers
The Commonwealth Fund
July 2014

Read more here.

Into the red? The state of the NHS' finances

"Commissioners found it harder to balance their budgets in 2013/14 than the previous financial year."

Into the red? The state of the NHS' finances: An analysis of NHS expenditure between 2010 and 2014
S Lafond, S Arora, A Charlesworth, A McKeon
Nuffield Trust
July 2014

Read more here.

A new settlement for health and social care

"The solution, we believe, is to have a single, ring-fenced budget for health and social care which is singly commissioned, and within which entitlements are much more closely aligned."

A new settlement for health and social care: interim report
The King's Fund
2014

Read more here.

Balancing quality and finance to deliver greater value

"Collaboration between clinical, financial and management colleagues is needed to do this, as well as strong engagement of patients and staff."

Two sides of the same coin: balancing quality and finance to deliver greater value
NHS Confederation
April 2014 - Issue 271

Read more here.

Focus on: Distance from home for emergency care

"This QualityWatch Focus On report examines the typical distances from home that people travel to receive emergency care, and how this has changed over time."

Focus on: Distance from home for emergency care
A Roberts, I Blunt, M Bardsley
Nuffield Trust, The Health Foundation
February 2014

Read more here.

Effective clinical and financial engagement

"Effective engagement between NHS clinicians and finance professionals has always been important and never more so than now as the NHS seeks to improve the quality of care for patients while becoming more productive and efficient."

Effective clinical and financial engagement: a best practice guide for the NHS
Department of Health
November 2013

Read more here.