The King’s Fund

Reforming the finances of the NHS

Source: The King’s Fund- Health Management and Policy Alert

It is a time of transition in NHS finance. The planned recovery from years of deficits and debts that plagued parts of the NHS in recent years has been hit by the enormity of the Covid-19 shock. Alongside this planned recovery, the NHS has been moving away from its decades-long journey toward competition between individual organisations and using market-like approaches to improve performance, to a design based on collaboration and improving population health. Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the NHS was working to restore financial health and deliver on fundamental reform; now, it must achieve these objectives with the added challenge of recovering from the damage of Covid-19.

A new financial architecture for the NHS requires coherence and balance, and a recognition that any national financial strategy will be heavily mediated by the quality of local relationships. The King’s Fund new long read discusses how lessons from the recent history of NHS finances can help the system plan for the future.

To read the article click here.

Digital technology and health inequalities

A scoping review

Source: King’s Fund Digital Health Digest

This report, published jointly by Public Health Wales and The King’s Fund, explores how a lack of access, skills and motivation for using digital technologies could contribute to inequalities in health and other outcomes. It considers approaches to reduce the widening differences between groups.

Improving the nation’s health

The future of the public health system in England

Source: King’s Fund Health Management and Policy Alert

In light of the impact of the pandemic and the government’s decision to abolish Public Health England (PHE), this briefing explores what needs to be put in place to make progress on the government’s commitments to improve the nation’s health. It looks at the role the government can play in improving the nation’s health before examining how England might transition to a new public health system and what the main priorities for any new system should be.

To find out more click here.

Bertie’s book group 2020

Join the King’s Fund for their online book group in July when readers will be discussing So lucky by Nicola Griffith. The novel follows Mara Tagarelli who discovers in the space of a week that her wife is leaving her and that she has been diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. The novel is an exploration of identity, disability and ableism.

The King’s Fund

Bertie’s book group 2020

The King’s Fund continues with online book group discussions in June, this time reading Mr Chartwell by Rebecca Hunt. Set in 1964 the novel explores depression through the experiences of Esther, a widowed librarian, and Winston Churchill, who is at the end of his career, days before his retirement.

To sign up to the newsletter for this virtual book group click here