Health Management and Policy Alert

Fixing NHS dentistry

Public Accounts Committee -
This report finds that, at best, only around half of the English population could see an NHS dentist over a two-year period under current funding and contractual arrangements. Just 40% of adults saw an NHS dentist in the two years to March 2024, compared to 49% in the two years pre-pandemic. It concludes that the current NHS dental contract isn't fit for purpose and calls for a complete reform with timescales and costings.

• Report
• Public Accounts Committee - news

Quality and Outcomes Framework guidance for 2025/26

NHS England -
This document provides additional guidance on the interpretation and verification of the QOF indicators for 2025/26 in England. It is effective from 1 April 2025 and replaces versions issued in previous years.

• Guidance
• NHS England - publications

Economic analysis of NHS pharmaceutical services in England

Frontier Economics -
This review was commissioned by NHS England in October 2022. The report looks at the full economic costs of delivering NHS pharmaceutical services, and how these costs vary across and within: different types of pharmacy; different mix of dispensing activity and services; and different locations. It also evaluates the current funding model and outlines which clinical services can be most efficiently delivered from community pharmacy.

• Report
• Frontier Economics - news

What should national policy-makers do to make care closer to home a reality?

The King's Fund -
As part of its 10 Year Health Plan, the government plans to shift care from hospital to community and integrate neighbourhood health services. This long read examines the policy levers available to any government wishing to reform health and care services.

• Long read

Is the left shift mission impossible?

NHS Confederation -
This long read explores the current policy environment and spotlights the breadth of models and approaches shifting resources and funding flows closer to home. It defines the term 'left shift' as the shift of activity out of hospitals to those delivered closer to home – largely provided by primary or community services and wider system partners.

• Long read

Designing a neighbourhood health service

Reform - 

The government have been clear on the need to shift care decisively out of hospitals and into communities, facilitated by the creation of a new NHS – what they call a neighbourhood health service. Drawing on interviews with senior experts from the health and care sector, this report identifies examples of best practice from across the UK that should inform the government’s approach – and lessons that should be taken from each – based on granting greater autonomy and resources to local providers.

• Report
• More detail

Invest to change: the capital needs of community services

NHS Confederation - 

The results of a survey by the NHS Confederation's Community Network show the scale of underinvestment in NHS community services. This report highlights views of a range of leaders in the community health services sector on the condition of their organisations’ facilities and digital systems; the impact these have on patient care and staff productivity; and the consequences for integrated working.

• Report

Patient experience and trust in NHS primary care

NHS Race & Health Observatory - 

Despite primary care services often being the first point of contact with the NHS for patients, this report highlights a worrying lack of trust amongst certain ethnic minority groups of the service or care that they receive. A third of South Asian participants say they rarely or never trust primary care to meet their health needs. Over 2,680 people competed the primary care ‘trust’ survey issued by the NHS Race and Health Observatory in 2022, which sought views on a broad range of areas including overall trust in, and satisfaction with, primary care providers, and levels of satisfaction with remote healthcare services.

• Report
• Press release

The partnership model in general practice predates the NHS : is now the time to change it?

Nuffield Trust -
The partnership model in general practice in England has been in place since before the NHS was formed, but its future is uncertain. The number of GP partners has fallen significantly, and relatively few early career GPs now aspire to the role. This briefing explains what the partnership model is and describes alternative business models for general practice.

• Briefing
• Nuffield Trust - press release

GP Contract 2025/26: what you need to know

NHS Confederation - 

This briefing provides a summary and analysis of the GP Contract 2025/26, which was announced on 28 February 2025.

• Briefing