Health Management and Policy Alert

Local government financial sustainability

National Audit Office - 
This report says that local government finances are becoming unsustainable, due to increasing demand on essential frontline services, the impact of delayed finance reform and the erosion of investment in preventative programmes. It also finds that it can be increasingly hard for people to access public services, as demand outstrips resources.

• Report
• National Audit Office - press release

State of the state 2025

Reform - 
This report, published in partnership with Deloitte, explores key issues facing the UK government and public services. It is based on an Ipsos public poll, and more than 80 interviews with public sector leaders. It aims to provide both an insider’s view of the challenges facing an incoming government, and a citizen’s view of what matters and how government is performing.

• Report
• Reform - publications

Quangocracy: the future of public bodies

Reform -
This report estimates that public bodies now account for around 60% of day-to-day government spending. It argues that departments are unclear on the power they have over public bodies and the main channels for holding them to account are underpowered, under resourced or ineffective. It sets out recommendations to ensure that the right processes are in place for departments to deliver through public bodies, but also so that public bodies are only created where they add genuine value.

• Report
• Reform - publications

Care workforce and their work-related quality of life: findings on work related quality of life and wellbeing – wave 1

Department of Health and Social Care -
The adult social care workforce survey was designed to collect information on a range of workforce conditions and how they affect work-related quality of life. The insights from the survey aim to support policy development to deliver the government’s ambitions to support the adult social care workforce. These include implementing the first fair pay agreement for adult social care, enhancing skills and building towards a national care service.

• Report
• Department of Health and Social Care - publications

Things can only get better?: public perceptions of health and care under the new government

The Health Foundation - 
This survey looks at public attitudes to health and care under the new government. Results show that making it easier to get appointments at GP practices has risen to the top of the public’s priorities for the NHS. It found strong support among the English public for the three ‘shifts’ that are set to be the focus of the government’s 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS. Focusing on preventing sickness not just treating it is the most popular shift (86% support this being a top priority for the government), followed by moving more care from hospitals to communities (82%) and making better use of technology (73%).

• Briefing
• The Health Foundation - press release

The future of primary care

NHS Confederation -
This report discusses how primary care at scale can evolve and innovate to support the government's ambition to shift care closer to home. It is intended for primary care and integrated care system leaders and policymakers within the Department for Health and Social Care and NHS England, and sets out short- and long-term recommendations.

• Report
• NHS Confederation - publications

Digital inclusion action plan: first steps

Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology -
This plan aims to close the digital divide in the UK, ensuring that everyone has the access, skills, support and confidence to engage in our modern digital society and economy, whatever their circumstances. The first five actions look at local level support, skills, devices, accessible government services and evidence around health outcomes and health inequalities. It focuses on young people, older people, people with disabilities, people currently out of work, and low-income households.

• Action plan
• Department for Science, Innovation, and Technology - publications

The South West London Acute Provider Collaborative

NHS Providers - 

This case study looks at the South West London Acute Provider Collaborative's diagnostics programme, established following the first wave of the Covid-19 pandemic, with the aim of leading the renewal and recovery of diagnostic services across South West London acute trusts and to ensure the growing demand for diagnostic services could be met.

• Case study

Involving nurse leaders in strategic health workforce planning

International Council of Nurses - 

This publication is a practical guide to including nurses in workforce planning decisions. It provides guidance on how to engage nurses in the process and access the knowledge, insight and expertise of the nursing profession to better shape and drive health workforce plans for the entire health workforce.

• Guide
• Press release

State of caring: the impact of caring on carers’ mental health and the need for support from social care services

Carers UK - 

Carers UK carried out an online survey with unpaid carers between June and August 2024. This report summarises their responses. As not all respondents completed every question in the survey, some figures are based on responses from less than 12,500 people. An increasing number of people looking after a disabled, older or ill relatives are experiencing poor mental health because they cannot take a break from caring. More than half (57%) of people say they feel overwhelmed ‘often’ or ‘always’. Over a third (35%) say they have ‘bad’ or ‘very bad’ mental health, compared to 27% in the previous year’s survey.

• Report
• Press release