Very interesting reflections from Phil Whitaker on the The King's Fund and Nuffield Trust British Social Attitudes survey including on the speed of the recent decline. This has how it has felt working on the survey over the last few years. A long time coming then a rapid descent

I wonder if this campaign leaflet shows a slight misunderstanding of the concept of levelling up

In 1999, in my first civil service job, I worked on the National Beds Enquiry, commissioned by Frank Dobson. We said the NHS would need more beds (they've reduced a lot since) and recommended greater use of intermediate care.
25 years on, what's the state on intermediate care? ⬇️

Health and health inequalities are back in the spotlight.
It’s a huge opportunity to land some strong policy action.
Doing so means ensuring credibility and rigour in our arguments as Charles Tallack explains ⬇️⬇️

Director of Data Analytics Charles Tallack argues for credible messaging about tackling #HealthInequalities .

This is crucial to winning over decision makers and influencers who are not yet convinced of the need to act.

Read Charles' new blog 👇
health.org.uk/news-and-comme…

Charles Tallack If lack of motivation was the problem, then financial incentives might be a solution.
But A&E performance isn't a motivation issue. It's the outcome of deep rooted issues in the whole health & care system aggravated by under-resourcing for level of population health need.

There is an important role for the careful tweaking of financial incentives to drive desired improvements but this is reckless. A recipe for prioritising easier cases, ignoring important issues and manipulating data

More NHS finance insanity.

If you are lucky enough to have a local hospital that is already doing well, or is capable of improvement, then the NHS in your area will get extra investment.

If your local hospital is struggling then sorry you don’t qualify for help.

This does seem to be a very big financial incentive to invite as many random people off the street into A&E as possible. Or at least direct as many ppl with minor issues at GPs to go to A&E for a “second opinion”

NHS E are making A&E performance a competition with million pound cash prizes for the top ranked trusts.
This does not seem like a good incentive system.
Note that letter issued today (12 March) for performance in March.
england.nhs.uk/long-read/urge…

If you want to know where the productivity improvements of 1.9% per annum promised for the NHS are going to come from (or aren't as may be the case) read this thread. And thanks to Andy Cowper for signposting this