Andrew McCracken

Line graph titled "Percentage of consultant-led treatment pathways where treatment begins within 18 weeks of referral". The graph displays data from January 2005 to January 2030, showcasing a fluctuating trend that repeatedly meets and falls below the target trajectory of treatments starting within 18 weeks. As of the most recent data, the trend dramatically rises to meet the target. Data source: NHS England.

The elective recovery plan is a 'welcome approach the NHS will take to deliver this stretching ambition' to meet the 18-week wait for elective care says CEO, Sarah Woolnough. But much of the plan relies on difficult financial decisions in the future. Read more: www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

The scale of the challenge

Target of 92% of patients to be seen within 18 weeks hasn't been met for best part of decade.
Red line shows the steep improvement needed to get back on track within this Parliament.

Chart from recent @thekingsfund.bsky.social blog:
www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

If you’re waking to news of the commission on #socialcare your first instinct may be to head back under the covers. What, another one? Really? But there are genuine reasons to support it, along with a some concerns, particularly on the timing. Shortish thread.

Sarah Woolnough, CEO of The King's Fund, is featured in a press release quote: 'The 18-week target is an important hospital milestone, but it is not a milestone for our overall health service. ‘To seriously drive change, ministers should conduct a more wide-ranging and fundamental review of health service targets so that they incentivise the improvements to services that patients need.’

'The 18-week target is an important hospital milestone, but it is not a milestone for our overall health service,' says
Sarah Woolnough, responding to the Prime Minister's speech on its Plan for Change and the #NHS waiting list 'milestone'. Read more: www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

Implementing A 10-Year Health Plan: International Examples | The King's Fund As the government is working on its 10-year plan for health, we explore international case studies to see how other countries and regions have implemented their plans.

England is not the only nation grappling with health + care reform.

New @thekingsfund.bsky.social research examined reforms in three other countries and the lessons for our government's 10 Year Health Plan:

- Portugal
- The Basque Country, Spain
- Denmark

www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

An NHS fit for the future by focusing on a hospital target from the past?
Govt appears to be reconsidering its pledge to meet all standards by 2029. Rightly so, but...
while 18 week does matter to patients, in prioritising that target, NHS now locked in to a hospital-focus.

Can The Government Recover NHS Performance Standards? | The King's Fund Siva Anandaciva calls for the government to conduct a full review of performance targets, if it's serious about driving through reforms to the health care service.

As we wait for PM's 'reset' speech this blog from Siva @thekingsfund.bsky.social is an important one to consider - targets will be very difficult to meet this term, there's an opportunity cost, and the bold choice might be to do something different www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

If you’ve not stopped to think about what promises around NHS targets means, then you could do worse than read this thought provoking piece from Siva. Any one who follows me from Twitter knows I’m not the biggest fans of current measures as they don’t always prioritise what matters most to people.

Can The Government Recover NHS Performance Standards? | The King's Fund Siva Anandaciva calls for the government to conduct a full review of performance targets, if it's serious about driving through reforms to the health care service.

Off the back of the Darzi review, we believe the government is right to think differently about NHS targets to drive the best improvements for patients. Siva Anandaciva explores the new approaches the government could take to recover targets. Read in full: www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

Can The Government Recover NHS Performance Standards? | The King's Fund Siva Anandaciva calls for the government to conduct a full review of performance targets, if it's serious about driving through reforms to the health care service.

Ahead of PM speech on Thu, an this government really recover NHS performance standards within a single parliament? And what are the costs of trying?

We look at the alternatives and why the NHS targets regime needs to be reviewed.
www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

The government has no time to lose if it wants to reform social care So far it has stumbled from one policy mis-step to another

.@thekingsfund.bsky.social CEO Sarah Woolnough in @financialtimes.com on #SocialCare:
"Some form of task force or royal commission may be only realistic way forward. It would allow the beginning of a public debate about reform &, cruciall,y the realities of paying for it"
www.ft.com/content/f6bf...

Ooof!

415-47

Resounding support for #TobaccoAndVapesBill in Commons this evening.

MPs were voting on the p[principle of the Bill, which includes a phased ban on the sale of tobacco so that no one born after Jan 2009 will ever be able to legally buy tobacco in this country.

Huge week coming up for health & care legislation.

Three Bills all at 2nd reading, so Parliamentarians will be voting on the principles (rather than detail).

Mon: Mental Health Bill - Lords vote

Tue: Tobacco + Vapes Bill - Commons vote

Fri: Assisted Dying Bill - Commons vote

… And unfortunately the app isn’t much better… My view of the notifications tab… 🫤

Who to follow on Bluesky?

This lot!

Follow my @thekingsfund.bsky.social colleagues for health and care insight, analyses and *occasionally* funny posts.

go.bsky.app/MnqAfyt

Ok, so I think @bsky.app has a way to go on accessibility.... my blew when I try to read or compose a post on desktop...

I basically have to copy and paste into and out of another app.

If Prevention Is Better Than Cure, We Need to Prioritise Children's Health | The King's Fund Shockingly, children’s health is on a downward spiral at the moment. How can this decline be halted? Jessica Holden considers some of the actions needed.

On world children's day, my @thekingsfund.bsky.social colleague Jessica Holden argues that children's health needs to be much more of a priority as part fo the shift to prevention.

www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...

There was a spontaneous round of applause in the
@TheKingsFund office when the news was shared internally this morning. A fantastic appointment. 👏

NHS And Life Sciences Industry Partnerships: Collaborating To Improve Care | The King's Fund This report explores the benefits and challenges of NHS-industry partnerships aiming to catalyse improvements in the health and care sector.

Yesterday we launched our new report: NHS and life sciences industry partnerships: collaborating to improve care. The report explores the catalyst for positive change these partnerships could be, while also examines the challenges this way of working might face. www.kingsfund.org.uk/insight-and-...