Funding, news and events from May 2022 

Events 

Webinar: How does the NHS compare internationally? And what does it mean? 

Join us on 8 June for a webinar where we will look at the latest data on how the NHS performs compared to other countries, explore what the data can and can’t tell us about the strengths of different systems and consider the implications for NHS policy and government plans for reform. Sign up now.

Third-party event: NHS ConfedExpo 2022

We will be exhibiting at NHS ConfedExpo (stand E106) and presenting our latest analysis across various sessions on 15-16 June. The event aims to create a single point of focus for health and care leaders and teams to come together at a time of transformation and recovery. Find out more.

Webinar: Closing the gap – launching an independent review on health inequalities in Scotland  

We explored the aims of the Health Foundation’s independent review of health and health inequalities in Scotland over the past two decades in our latest webinar. Watch the webinar recording.

Blogs and long reads 

When partnerships turn sour: Why leaders need to go back to basics and build relationships from the bottom up

Penny Pereira, Managing Director of Q, has written a blog for NHS Providers, following publication of a new practical guide from Q to support health and care leaders to boost innovation and improvement through partnership. Read Penny's blog.

The first comprehensive map of young people’s health inequalities in the UK 

As part of the Young people's future health inquiry, the Health Foundation is working with the Association for Young People's Health (AYPH) to better understand the inequalities experienced by young people from different groups. In this blog, AYPH policy fellow Rachael McKeown outlines newly published data showing the scale and complexity of young people’s health inequalities, and the need for action. Read Rachael's blog.

Data-driven tools in health and care  

How can we ensure that data-driven tools in health and care are developed safely and equitably? We delved into questions with colleagues from across the system and pulled out some key themes to devise priorities for the future. Read more. 

Context matters: what’s needed for young people’s mental health?   

As part of Mental Health Awareness Week, Martina Kane reflects on varied Health Foundation work to better understand and support young people’s mental health. Read Martina's blog.

News 

NHS is again turning to non-UK workers to plug large gaps in the nursing workforce 

Nurses trained outside the UK have long played a vital role in delivering NHS services. The latest data from the Nursing and Midwifery Council’s annual nursing register and Health Education England’s budget confirmation show that the NHS is turning to non-UK workers to plug large gaps in the nursing workforce. Read our full response. 

Inaction on cost of living suggests government hasn’t grasped that health and wealth are intertwined 

The cost of living crisis is taking a toll on health, with people forced to choose between essentials like food and heating and driven into the stress and uncertainty of problem debt. Read our response to findings of a survey by the Royal College of Physicians (RCP) highlighting the impact of the cost of living crisis on health. 

Continued pressure on emergency services not safe or sustainable 

The continued pressure on urgent and emergency care services is simply not safe or sustainable, says Tim Gardener in response to the latest performance stats from NHS England. Read more.

Government must go further to level up the health recovery 

The ‘Queen’s Speech reiterated the UK Government's ambitions to level up. But with a cost-of-living crisis and a huge backlog in NHS care, much bolder action is needed to secure the nation's healthy recovery post-COVID,’ says Dr Jennifer Dixon, Chief Executive of the Health Foundation commenting on the Queen's Speech. Read Jennifer's statement.

Health and Care Act passes but leaves unfinished business for the NHS and social care 

The passing of the Health and Care Act is the biggest legislative shake up of the NHS in a decade, but does little to address the major pressures on health and care services right now. Read our full response. 

The best road to improving our health system is to invest in the model we have 

A report by Civitas provides an international comparison of health systems, placing the UK close to the bottom on a number of measures. But their report fails to capture several key areas where the NHS performs well by comparison. Read our response. 

This content originally featured in our email newsletter, which explores perspectives and expert opinion on a different health or health care topic each month.