The uptake of personal health budgets by people eligible for NHS continuing health care (CHC) varies widely across England. Our latest blog highlights a geographical divide that calls into question whether the government's ambition to expand personal health budgets is achievable. 🤔

What proportion of people eligible for NHS continuing health care have a personal health budget?

People eligible for NHS continuing health care have a legal right to a personal health budget, yet uptake remains low and it varies significantly across the country. With the 10-year plan aiming to do...

nuffieldtrust.org.uk

Watch @natashacurry.bsky.social explain the facts about the English social care system - how it works and where the issues stem from - on the GB News Originals podcast. www.youtube.com/watch?v=c30Y...

'Doing nothing is no longer an option!' Andy Burnham social care reforms are 'urgent'

YouTube video by GBNews

youtube.com

Stories of patients enduring A&E waits of more than 12 hours for a hospital bed have become all too commonplace since the pandemic. In February 2026, over a third of admitted cases waited over 12 hours from arrival to admission. Follow the trend in our video 👇

With social care at the top of this week's political and news agenda, our analysis comparing England's system with those of 11 other countries and regions has been making headlines. 📰 Lead author @camille-oung.bsky.social spoke to the Press Association about the findings 👇 buff.ly/K2RwTmo

How adult social care in England works – and how much it could really cost to reform

Andy Burnham will host a summit with Tory leader Kemi Badenoch and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey to discuss social care reforms

independent.co.uk

Our Senior Fellow, Kathryn Marszalek appeared on Radio 4's AntiSocial to discuss foreign workers in the #NHS. Kath said the pipeline of UK doctors being trained vs how many doctors the NHS actually needs is 'the holy grail of workforce planning'.

AntiSocial - Foreign workers in the NHS - BBC Sounds

Do we need more British-born doctors and nurses?

buff.ly

NEW: People eligible for NHS continuing health care (CHC) have a legal right to a personal health budget, but uptake remains low and it varies significantly across England. Rachel Hutchings says it raises important questions about how PHBs are used. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/wh...

What proportion of people eligible for NHS continuing health care have a personal health budget?

People eligible for NHS continuing health care have a legal right to a personal health budget, yet uptake remains low and it varies significantly across the country. With the 10-year plan aiming to do...

nuffieldtrust.org.uk

NEW: Writing in the @bmj.com, @natashacurry.bsky.social says it is in all our interests for Andy Burnham’s social care reforms to be successful. The PM has demonstrated he is aware of the urgency of the issue, but he will need to keep the public onside. www.bmj.com/content/394/...

Social care reform: 23rd time lucky?

On Wednesday 29 July, after many days of fevered speculation, the UK’s new prime minister Andy Burnham gave his first speech on social care since taking office. He had already signalled his commitment...

bmj.com

In the @mirror.co.uk 🗞️ @sarahscobie.bsky.social reflects on our #QualityWatch analysis: "It's absolutely shocking that two fifths of the most elderly patients going into A&E are stuck waiting for over 12 hours, often in unsafe conditions, when they are already extremely unwell and vulnerable."

Damning data shows elderly and frail more likely to face 12-hour waits in A&E

Nuffield Trust has branded findings to the NHS study as "absolutely shocking" as it shows those aged over-80 typically wait the longest to get a bed in A&E

mirror.co.uk

NEW: Elderly & frail patients are worst affected by the A&E crisis. New #QualityWatch findings show that 43% of over-80s wait more than 12 hours between arrival in A&E & admission to a ward – compared with 19% of 21-30-year-olds. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/lo...

@natashacurry.bsky.social says the PM is absolutely right to start a conversation about social care and to accelerate Baroness Casey's review of the system. Getting the public onside will be essential, as other countries show us that change is possible when reform gains public backing.

Nuffield Trust response to Prime Minister's speech on social care reform

Natasha Curry responds to the Prime Minister's speech today on social care reform.

nuffieldtrust.org.uk

One in five women require emergency care in the year after giving birth 🚑 Our analysis of 1.6 million births in England reveals stark inequalities and shows why improving women's health means looking beyond maternity services alone. Follow the link to find out more ➡️ buff.ly/kfW13ED

A slow return to the dentist...🦷 During the pandemic, dental appointments dropped sharply. While children’s visits have largely recovered, adult's visits struggle to increase, with both groups remaining below recommended levels. Visit our #QualityWatch page to find out more here: buff.ly/mUXHai6

Andy Burnham has said that the #NHS will ‘collapse’ unless #SocialCare is reformed. Our Deputy Director of Policy and social care expert, @natashacurry.bsky.social says the case for fixing social care extends far beyond protecting the NHS. buff.ly/GbbYbDy

Nuffield Trust response to Prime Minister's comment that "NHS will collapse" without social care reform

Natasha Curry responds to comments from the Prime Minister that the NHS will collapse if social care is not reformed.

nuffieldtrust.org.uk

Is NHS waiting list progress real? Does the NHS have enough staff, or are they in the wrong places? Thea Stein and Leonora Merry explore these questions and other key tests for the new Health & Care Secretary in our latest blog. 👇

Truth over triumphalism: Yvette Cooper must paint fuller picture of NHS progress than her predecessors

With Yvette Cooper announced this week as the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Thea Stein and Leonora Merry argue she will need to be honest about what is real progress in the NHS…

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Burnham has promised to “take power out” of Downing Street and devolve more power to local areas. But how should the new Health Secretary navigate bringing the devolution agenda to the #NHS? Read our blog 👇

How could the Burnham government overcome three barriers to NHS devolution?

With new Prime Minister Andy Burnham having pledged the “biggest rebalancing of power our country has ever seen”, it is clear that devolution will be a key theme under his leadership. As Mark Dayan…

buff.ly

How do survival rates vary by cancer type? 📊 Our #QualityWatch indicator tracks survival rates for the most common cancers in England - the highest survival rates were seen for testicular cancer and the lowest for mesothelioma. For more information, follow the link below: buff.ly/n1veDQ0

Cancer survival rates

We explore how cancer survival varies by cancer type and how it compares across countries.

buff.ly

How could reform of social care in England make means testing work better? 🏥 Our latest analysis provides insight into how 12 different countries approach eligibility and means testing for social care. So, how do other countries compare, and what is there to learn? Find out more ➡️ buff.ly/8C1lQAQ

NEW: Andy Burnham has signalled his intent on social care reform in England by saying he wants it to “operate on the NHS principle”. Natasha Curry sets out 4 vital questions for the PM if he wants to avoid repeating past failures on social care reform. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/th...

The path to social care reform: four key questions

In his first week as Prime Minister, Andy Burnham has already signalled his intent towards social care reform in England by saying that he wants it to “operate on the NHS principle”. With the politics...

nuffieldtrust.org.uk

Waits in A&E post-pandemic 🚑 Our #QualityWatch analysis shows how trolley waits rose sharply during the pandemic, with peaks in waiting times every winter for the past four years. How have waiting times changed since COVID? Check the link below to find out: buff.ly/s4AYAWv

This week @markgdayan.bsky.social told the Telegraph that it’s "unlikely the increase in private healthcare is because people have more money in their pockets. The inability to get an NHS appointment is the most common reason to seek private care.” Read more 👇 www.telegraph.co.uk/gift/730add5...

‘It was either spend £50k or be paralysed because of NHS waiting list’

Families wipe out savings to fast-track desperately needed treatment

telegraph.co.uk

NEW: With Yvette Cooper the new health and care secretary, @theasrstein.bsky.social & @leonoramerry.bsky.social argue she will need to be clear-eyed & honest about what is real progress in the NHS and what is not – with 6 tests in particular to look out for. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/tr...

Truth over triumphalism: Yvette Cooper must paint fuller picture of NHS progress than her predecessors

With Yvette Cooper announced this week as the new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Thea Stein and Leonora Merry argue she will need to be honest about what is real progress in the NHS an...

nuffieldtrust.org.uk

“There is still a big question mark about what a National Care Service actually means... an administrative body or a new centrally run free-at-the-point-of-use structure similar to the NHS.” @camille-oung.bsky.social spoke to The Times about Burnham's care reform plans. 👇️ buff.ly/C3C4GAM

Could a death tax give Andy Burnham £18bn a year to fix social care?

A succession of prime ministers have entered office promising to solve the problem of social care but none have succeeded

thetimes.com

Our chief exec @theasrstein.bsky.social has commented on new PM Andy Burnham's remarks on social care reform, and reflected on the challenges ahead for the new Secretary of State, Yvette Cooper. Read Thea's view 👇

No time for a honeymoon: Nuffield Trust commentary on social care reform and new Secretary of State

Thea Stein responds to the new Prime Minister’s comments on social care and the announcement of a new Secretary of State for Health and Social Care.

nuffieldtrust.org.uk

When considering social care reform, there is much to learn from how social care systems are organised around the world. @camille-oung.bsky.social explains how a comparison between England and New Zealand offers food for thought 👇

NEW: It's clear that devolution will be a key theme under Andy Burnham's leadership. As @markgdayan.bsky.social & @sjanereed.bsky.social argue, making the NHS part of that devolution agenda will not be easy for him & Yvette Cooper, but it’s not impossible. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/ho...

How could the Burnham government overcome three barriers to NHS devolution?

With new Prime Minister Andy Burnham having pledged the “biggest rebalancing of power our country has ever seen”, it is clear that devolution will be a key theme under his leadership. As Mark Dayan an...

nuffieldtrust.org.uk

There are many ways to fund a social care system, as emphasised by our latest study. Across 12 countries and regions, there are varying approaches to how individuals should contribute towards the cost of their own care. Read more and explore our comparative toolkit: buff.ly/8C1lQAQ

Our new analysis suggests women's postnatal experiences could be improved through better preventive care. Each health condition we studied was associated with a higher risk of a postnatal emergency care contact, with the risk greatest before and during pregnancy. Read the report: buff.ly/y1df9pP

NEW: With Andy Burnham set to become PM and already talking about social care, this feels like a pivotal moment for the sector. @camille-oung.bsky.social & @natashacurry.bsky.social describe how other countries and regions draw the line between state and individual responsibility on social care.

A new contract for social care: how to strike the right balance between state and individual responsibility?

With Andy Burnham becoming Prime Minister and a national conversation underway about social care, this is a pivotal moment for the sector. Camille Oung and Natasha Curry describe how other countries a...

nuffieldtrust.org.uk

It's proving to be a challenging summer for the #NHS... Explore our #QualityWatch dashboard for the latest on the key performance metrics in England: 👉 buff.ly/7uRMAhn Short 🧵 on the take aways 👇 (1/4)

Read about today's report on postnatal emergency care in The Independent 🗞️ There are stark disparities, with deprivation, ethnicity, pre‑existing health conditions and age all associated with the risk of a mother in England using A&E services in the year after giving birth.

Warning for NHS as staggering number of new mothers seek emergency medical care

Black and young mothers are disproportionately affected

the-independent.com