@timgardnerthf.bsky.social
Policy wonk at Health Foundation, interested in health system performance, health care quality and role of policy in driving improvement. Also cycling, coffee, cake. Views personal, etc.
The Labour government’s most prominent commitment on health is to get waiting times back to 18 weeks by the end of the Parliament. Are they on track? We looked at this for last night’s Peston show youtu.be/yc-9Psk3gk8?... 🧵
03.07.2025 10:34 — 👍 6 🔁 6 💬 1 📌 1It’s a critical time to be shaping the future of health policy. This job puts you right at the heart of the Health Foundation’s influencing work. Get involved.
20.06.2025 08:12 — 👍 2 🔁 3 💬 0 📌 0Perhaps the 10 year plan will say more. I hope so.
The government has already committed to recovering 18 weeks by the end of the parliament.
Getting UEC performance back to anywhere close to the 4 hour target will need a similarly bold, medium term ambition, backed with the necessary resources.
The plan is squarely focused on preparing for next winter, which is exactly what @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social promised...
...but not looking at the longer-term recovery of UEC services feels a missed opportunity, especially for a plan that took almost 6 months to produce.
Also good to see a renewed focus on improving flu vaccination coverage for 'at risk' groups and health care workers.
We highlighted the need to do this, along with tackling the growth in very long waits, in recent @healthfoundation.bsky.social analysis of winter pressures in 2024/25.
New urgent and emergency care recovery plan published by NHS England today.
Some welcome measures, including a focus on reducing very long waits in A&E, improving flow within hospitals and a commitment to more transparency, including publishing data on corridor care.
Causes of low flu (and Covid-19) vaccination coverage among frontline NHS workers last winter urgently need to be understood.
Addressing low uptake not a silver bullet for preventing winter crises, but could help to reduce risk.
As flagged in recent @healthfoundation.bsky.social analysis.
Line chart of the monthly estimated total count of general practice appointments, including and excluding COVID-19 vaccinations, showing that the number of appointments in general practice is now substantially higher than before the pandemic, having dropped during the initial outbreak of COVID-19.
General practice in England is facing significant pressure.
Despite record numbers of appointments, more GPs are still needed, especially in deprived areas, where need is the greatest.
Explore our updated general practice data dashboard ⬇️
buff.ly/TZa6pum
What does the new GP contract for 2025/26 really mean for patients and GPs?
Great round up by @jaketreenotsea.bsky.social of what's included, the significance of the new agreement and what needs to happen next.
📣📣📣
Absolutely fabulous job opportunity @healthfoundation.bsky.social for a Public Health Consultant with the drive to improve health and reduce inequalities through transforming prevention policy - in its broadest sense - across the UK!
Please share ☺️
lde.tbe.taleo.net/lde01/ats/ca...
We want to hear from potential, current or (fairly recent) ex-civil service fast streamers!
Please take a few minutes to fill in our survey ⬇️
The govt confirms councils' core spending will rise by 6.8% in 2025/26, compared w/ 6% previously announced, helping fund some vital services supporting good health. But given long-term underfunding & social care pressures councils will still turn to cuts & council tax rises to stabilise finances🧵
05.02.2025 09:49 — 👍 6 🔁 4 💬 1 📌 0
Photo of the sun rising over a frosty field
Good morning
03.02.2025 07:43 — 👍 3 🔁 0 💬 0 📌 0
DHSC's now responded to the @houseoflords.parliament.uk 'Recipe for Health' report on how to fix our food system
The response includes:
-a new food strategy to come from Defra
-recognition that it needs a cross-gov approach
-industry to remain v much part of the solution
www.gov.uk/government/p...
So #NHS definitely not out of woods yet - still under severe strain from D&V and flu.
But we continue to see some more positive signs too - fall in RSV, Covid-19 still low, easing of A&E diverts/ambulance delays, decreasing flu beds/circulation.
But cautious positives from last week continue - compared to earlier this winter:
🔻A&E diverts
🔻ambulance handover delays
🔻children in hospital with RSV
And Covid-19 remains very low, as it has been throughout.
Impact of vomiting bugs on hospitals has been consistently bad this winter.
Reached a new high last week - 1,310 beds closed due to D&V on 26 Jan, worst day in last 3 years.
That's pretty hideous when many hospitals are at/close to capacity, with adult G&A bed occupancy averaging nearly 96%.
UKHSA suggests community circulation is still medium, but decreasing - a welcome change from last week.
30.01.2025 15:21 — 👍 0 🔁 0 💬 1 📌 0Flu continued to fall in w/c 20 Jan, down to an average of around 2,900 patients in G&A hospital beds per day - down from around 3,700 last week.
But decline was fairly slow, still hovering around last year's peak (NHSE data says slightly higher, UKHSA weekly report says slightly below).
Another week where the #NHS and #Winter has been less in the news, but latest week of data from NHS England suggests things continue to be very tough.
Short 🧵 on the main points...
Yes, countries use different mechanisms to fund health care. And yes, this stuff is fascinating to policy wonks.
But does it shape health outcomes more than (say) differences in how much is spent, numbers of staff or how services are delivered? No.
Great stuff by @sjanereed.bsky.social here.
The QualityWatch NHS Performance Dashboard displays key NHS performance metrics for England via accessible charts and comparative statistics.
Want to see how the #NHS in England is doing at a glance?
The new #QualityWatch NHS Performance Dashboard shows key NHS performance data via accessible, visually striking charts and comparative statistics 👇
www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/qualitywatch...
New social care commission, new public polling from @healthfoundation.bsky.social @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social...
Should the government prioritise cross-party consensus on social care reform or press ahead with delivering reform ASAP?
We found the public are split on the right approach.
Less in the news this week about #winter and the #NHS, but yesterday saw a fresh set of data from NHS England.
Short 🧵 on the main points. @healthfoundation.bsky.social
As @rthonwesstreeting.bsky.social astutely observes, general elections are where social care reform plans go to die.
But current timeline for the commission’s final report falls close to GE2029. Worth combining commitment to exploring long-term solutions with more immediate action to improve care.
New social care commission, new public polling from @healthfoundation.bsky.social @ipsosintheuk.bsky.social...
Should the government prioritise cross-party consensus on social care reform or press ahead with delivering reform ASAP?
We found the public are split on the right approach.
For over a decade, #QualityWatch has been tracking and visualising #NHS data, allowing us to see how policies, interventions and events affect performance.
The new NHS performance dashboard looks great!
@nuffieldtrust.bsky.social @healthfoundation.bsky.social
So, some cause to be optimistic - falls in flu and RSV, Covid-19 still low, A&E/ambulance delays have eased.
But need for caution - #NHS still under severe strain from flu and D&V. Increasing community circulation could see further surge in flu. Weather looks milder, but will bring other problems.
Many hospitals still running at/close to capacity, with adult G&A bed occupancy averaging nearly 96%.
Some cautious positives too: compared to recent weeks:
🔻A&E diverts
🔻ambulance handover delays
🔻children in hospital with RSV
And Covid-19 remains very low, as it has been throughout this winter.
Vomiting bugs are another source of pressure on hospital capacity this winter.
BBC reported a 'surge in vomiting bugs' (unfortunate choice of words), but impact on beds has been consistently high.
Over 800 beds shut for D&V cases daily on average this winter, far more than 2023/24 or 2022/23.
