Evaluation: what to consider

"Inspired by the most commonly asked questions, this guide is intended to assist those new to evaluation by suggesting methodological and practical considerations and providing resources to support further learning." 

Evaluation: what to consider: Commonly asked questions about how to approach evaluation of quality improvement in health care
The Health Foundation
March 2015

Read more here.

An Illustrated Look at Quality Improvement in Health Care (video)

This video provides a practical and motivating introduction to quality improvement in healthcare.

Dr. Mike Evans Video: An Illustrated Look at Quality Improvement in Health Care
Institute of Healthcare Improvement

Watch the video here.

Making best use of the Better Care Fund

"This paper summarises the evidence from work by The King’s Fund and other research about which approaches are likely to offer commissioners maximum impact in a way that will benefit both the NHS and social care."

Making best use of the Better Care Fund
R Humphries, L Bennett
The King's Fund
January 2014

Read more here.

NHS co-payments: how popular are they among healthcare users?

"A survey of patients and their opinions on the use of co-payments and top-up fees in the NHS."

NHS co-payments: how popular are they among healthcare users?
The Patients Association
January 2014

Read more here.

Briefing: The Care Bill second reading in the House of Commons

"While The King’s Fund welcomes the Bill as an important stepping stone to wider reform of care and support, it will not solve the social care funding challenge, nor will it deliver the change needed to meet future health and care needs."

Briefing: The Care Bill second reading in the House of Commons
The King's Fund
December 2013

Read more here.

The state of health care and adult social care in England 2012/13

"In around 90% of cases, people were treated with dignity and respect and were receiving care, treatment and support that met their needs and was safe. But, despite improvements in each type of care setting, we are disappointed that in around 10% of cases people received poor quality care."

The state of health care and adult social care in England 2012/13
Care Quality Commission
November 2013

Read more here.

You can see a pictorial version of the report here.

The UK strategy for rare diseases

"The Strategy aims to ensure that people living with a rare disease have the best quality of evidence based care and treatment that our health and social care systems, working with charities and other organisations, our researchers and industry can provide."

The UK strategy for rare diseases
Department of Health
November 2013

Read more here.

National audit of intermediate care

"As in 2012, the 2013 audit has highlighted wide variation in the extent of multi-agency commissioning, the scale of services provided and how intermediate care sits within the full range of health and social care services within each local area."

National audit of intermediate care
NHS Benchmarking Network
November 2013

Read more here.

Critical learning from four different systems for the successful integration of social care and health services

"This paper seeks to clarify the central contribution of social services to delivering change based on best research and practice knowledge as part of an integrated service."

Four Nations United: Critical learning from four different systems for the successful integration of social care and health services
Association of Directors of Adult Social Services
October 2013

Read more here.

NHS in transition: key questions

"The most costly care – typically hospital based care – should ideally be used only when necessary, and non-hospital based alternatives should be encouraged, provided that they can help patients for less cost."

NHS in transition: key questions
Nuffield Trust
November 2013

Read more here.

Money well spent?

"This briefing for councillors and officers explains the importance of assessing value for money in helping local authorities fulfil their public health responsibilities."

Money well spent? Assessing the cost effectiveness and return on investment of public health interventions
Local Government Association
November 2013

Read more here.

Corruption, inequality and population perception of healthcare quality in Europe

"We found robust evidence for the impact of socio-demographic variables on the perception of quality of health care."

Corruption, inequality and population perception of healthcare quality in Europe
Z Nikoloski, E Mossialos
BMC Health services Research, 2013, 13:472

Read more here.

How Ealing Health Networks can contribute to efficient and quality healthcare

"We describe how the formation of Health Networks in Ealing leads to improved outcomes for patients by the coordination of the care they receive by health and social care professionals."

How Ealing Health Networks can contribute to efficient and quality healthcare
R Chandok, N Unadkat, L Nasir, L Evans, P Thomas
London Journal of Primary Care, 2013, 5:62-4

Read more here.

Is the quality of care in England getting better?

"This paper is a summary of the first annual statement from the QualityWatch programme. It is not comprehensive but provides an overview of our initial research into the quality of publicly-funded health and social care services in England."

Is the quality of care in England getting better?
The Health Foundation, Nuffield Trust
October 2013

Read more here.

Future hospital: caring for medical patients

"Future hospital: caring for medical patients focuses on the care of acutely ill medical patients, the organisation of medical services, and the role of physicians and doctors in training across the medical specialties in England and Wales."

Future hospital: caring for medical patients
Future Hospital Commission
September 2013

Read more here.

The Mandate

"The Mandate [from the Government] to the NHS Commissioning Board sets out the objectives for the NHS and highlights the areas of health and care where the Government expects to see improvements:

• helping people live longer
• managing ongoing physical and mental health conditions
• helping people recover from episodes of ill health or following injury
• making sure people experience better care
• providing safe care."

The Mandate
Department of Health
August 2013

Read more here.

Examining the barriers to and tensions in delivering effective healthcare in UK care homes

"Care home staff played an important, yet little recognised, role in delivering healthcare to residents."

Examining the barriers to and tensions in delivering effective healthcare in UK care homes: a qualitative study
I Robbins, A Gordon, J Dyas, P Logan, J Gladman
BMJ Open, 2013;3:e003178

Read more here.

Commissioning care and support for older people with high support needs

"Many models of care and support are based on mutually valued relationships and older people's contributions, but most operate beneath the radar of public sector commissioners."

Commissioning care and support for older people with high support needs
J Carrier
Joseph Rowntree Foundation
July 2013

Read the summary here.

Rewiring public services: adult social care and health

"The next phase of development in social care and health services must be towards integration: integrated services are much more likely to improve people’s health and wellbeing in ways which treat them with dignity and respect, and it makes financial sense to get rid of duplication and waste."

Rewiring public services: adult social care and health
Local Government Association
June 2013

Read more here.

Clinical commissioning groups: supporting improvement in general practices?

"The King's Fund and the Nuffield Trust are working together to assess the implementation and impact of CCGs. Between 2012 and 2015, we are following the evolution of clinical commissioning in six case-study sites and will publish the findings annually. This first report is based on fieldwork conducted before CCGs had become fully authorised. It provides an overview of developments through to March 2013, plus an assessment of the opportunities and challenges ahead."

Clinical commissioning groups: supporting improvement in general practices?
C Naylor, S Ross, N Curry, H Holder L Marshall, E Tait
The King's Fund, Nuffield Trust
July 2013

Read more here.