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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 14h

The rising average age of mothers is often cited as a challenge for maternity services, but the number of older women giving birth has shown little change over the past decade. Our analysis shows that a decline in younger mothers is driving the trend. Read more: buff.ly/PdBOVvo

Stacked area chart showing live births in England by mother's age from 2015–2025, with the bands for older age groups (30–34, 35–39, 40 and over) remaining broadly steady, illustrating births to older mothers have hardly changed.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 09/10/2026

Read Thea Stein's statement on the final report of the independent review into mental health conditions, ADHD and autism, led by Peter Fonagy. 👉 Read the statement: buff.ly/4Reysx3

Graphic featuring a large quotation and a head-and-shoulders portrait in the bottom-right corner. The quote reads: “For ADHD and autism, there is mounting evidence of how hard it is to distinguish symptoms, functional impairment and support needs, and the report raises concerns about the consistency and quality of diagnostic assessments for these conditions.”

The quote is attributed to Thea Stein, Chief Executive. The graphic also includes a document icon and a label reading “Press release”.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 08/10/2026

Over 2.4 million patients attended A&E in England last month, a record September attendance total. The share of patients waiting over 12 hours also increased, crossing 10% for the first time since February. Explore the latest data via our #QualityWatch dashboard, updated today: 👉 buff.ly/3exJReD

Percentage of A&E patients waiting over 12 hours: 10.1% in September 2026, up 0.4 percentage points from August 2026 and up 0.3 percentage points year‑on‑year, with a line chart showing monthly fluctuations around 5–12% from 2023–2026.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 02/10/2026

There is substantial regional variation in the number of MRI scanners per million people in England. Explore our chart of the week to learn more 📊 👉 buff.ly/zsLRoaK

Bar chart comparing MRI scanners per million people across UK regions for 2022/23 (green) and 2024/25 (blue), showing most regions increased scanner availability between years, with London highest and the South East among the lowest.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 28/09/2026

NEW: MRI scanners are an important part of NHS diagnostic capacity, but England has relatively few of them. Christiana Olugbade & @stutibagri.bsky.social reveal there is also a lot of regional variation across the country when it comes to the numbers of MRI scanners. buff.ly/zsLRoaK

Bar chart comparing MRI scanners per million people across UK regions, with green bars for 2022/23 and blue for 2024/25, showing London and North West highest and most regions increasing.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 26/09/2026

Our indicators track the quality of health and care in England across a range of measures... Evidence shows that stillbirth rates are twice as high in the most deprived areas as in the least deprived, showing stark inequalities rooted in deprivation. ➡️Click here to find out more: buff.ly/10B9GSX

Line chart showing stillbirth rates per 1,000 births from 2010–2024, with the most deprived areas (teal) consistently about twice the rate of the least deprived areas (pink), both declining slightly over time but retaining a clear gap.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 24/09/2026

Historically, disability and deprivation have been closely linked, but our analysis of PIP finds that this link is weaker for #ADHD and #autism, and has weakened further in recent years. Read more: buff.ly/8vOFG8k

England's least deprived areas have seen the sharpest increase in PIP rates for ADHD or autism among 16–17‑year‑olds — a line chart shows estimated median PIP rates by deprivation quintile rising from 2019 to 2025, with the least‑deprived quintile increasing most.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 22/09/2026

NEW: The rate of 16-17-year-olds living in England’s least deprived areas who receive PIP for #ADHD or #autism has trebled in six years from 2019. While rates remain higher, on average, in the most deprived areas, the gap has narrowed. Read our analysis: buff.ly/3dFfJ8s

PIP claim rates for ADHD and autism remain higher in the most deprived areas: 2019 vs 2025 bars show most deprived rose from 2.1% to 5.1% (2.4×) and least deprived from 0.8% to 2.5% (3.1×), so rates higher in deprived areas though relative growth larger in least deprived.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 20/09/2026

There's a clear difference in the proportion of children and adults seen on time by a liaison team when referred from A&E for mental health reasons in England. Stuti Bagri explores the data in our chart of the week. 👉 buff.ly/SIqonzn

Line chart showing the proportion of referrals from an emergency department that were seen by a liaison psychiatry team within one hour between June 2025 and June 2026. Headline reads: “Children and young people are less likely than adults to be seen by a liaison psychiatry team within an hour”.

Two lines compare performance for adults aged 18 and over and for children and young people under 18. Throughout the period, adults were consistently more likely to be seen within an hour than children and young people.

The proportion of adults seen within an hour remained relatively stable, ranging from around 53% to 58%, ending at approximately 54% in June 2026. For children and young people, the proportion ranged from around 42% to 50%, ending at approximately 44% in June 2026.

The chart shows that children and young people attending emergency departments were consistently less likely than adults to be assessed by a liaison psychiatry team within one hour.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 18/09/2026

🔎 The data lays bare just how much of a struggle it can be to access NHS dentistry. An average of just 38% of new patients in England were able to secure an NHS dental appointment in 2025/26. Read our analysis: buff.ly/ZWoovUC

Choropleth map of England showing the proportion of new patients able to get an NHS general dentistry appointment in 2025/26. Headline reads: “New patients are struggling to get appointments for NHS general dentistry”.

Text states: “New patients able to get NHS appointment (2025/26). Average across England: 38%”. A colour scale ranges from 15% to 61%, with darker shades representing lower proportions of new patients able to get an appointment and lighter shades representing higher proportions.

The map shows substantial geographical variation across England. Some of the lowest levels of access are found in parts of the South West and eastern England, while higher levels of access are visible across much of London, the Midlands and parts of the South East. The graphic highlights that a new patient's chances of securing an NHS dental appointment vary considerably depending on where they live.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 17/09/2026

NEW: With A&E depts expected to provide mental health liaison services and ensure patients are seen by a liaison psychiatry team within an hour from referral, @stutibagri.bsky.social shows that children & young people are not seen as quickly as adults. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/men...

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 16/09/2026

The NHS is facing a long waiting list for planned treatment - but where are people joining the list from? The data shows an almost 20% rise in waiting list referrals from general practice in the three years to July 2026. Explore our analysis: buff.ly/0ZtBeg5

Line chart showing weekly GP referrals to NHS waiting lists between July 2023 and July 2026. Headline reads: “There has been a sustained increase in referrals from general practice”.

The chart shows weekly GP referrals in grey and a 12-week rolling average in blue. Weekly referrals fluctuate considerably from week to week, with several sharp dips around holiday periods, while the rolling average shows the underlying trend.

The 12-week average rises steadily from just below 200,000 referrals per week in mid-2023 to more than 225,000 by mid-2026.

The chart shows a sustained upward trend in referrals from general practice to NHS waiting lists over the three-year period.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 14/09/2026

Early evidence suggests the government has succeeded in its aim of prioritising more UK-trained doctors for specialty training posts. Read our analysis: 👉 buff.ly/8kzUb2i

Stacked bar chart showing the proportion of accepted specialty training offers by priority group status in 2025 and 2026. Headline reads: “Legislation to prioritise UK-trained doctors has had a substantial effect on who is offered and accepted onto specialty training programmes”.

Two bars compare the percentage of accepted offers between priority group doctors and non-priority group doctors. In 2025, priority group doctors accounted for around 72% of accepted offers, while non-priority group doctors accounted for around 28%.

In 2026, following the introduction of prioritisation legislation, priority group doctors accounted for almost all accepted offers at around 98%, while non-priority group doctors accounted for only around 2%.

The chart shows a substantial shift in the distribution of accepted specialty training offers towards priority group doctors between 2025 and 2026, with the share accepted by non-priority group doctors falling sharply.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 13/09/2026

Where are the gaps in NHS dentistry? Access to NHS dentistry is becoming increasingly uneven across England, with the South West and East of England having fewer NHS dental practices per resident. Take a look to find out more: buff.ly/ZWoovUC

Choropleth map of England showing the number of practices offering NHS general dentistry per 100,000 people in 2025/26. Headline reads: “Areas with fewer practices per resident cluster in the South West and the East of England”.

Text states: “Practices offering NHS general dentistry per 100,000 people (2025/26). Average across England: 10 per 100,000”. A colour scale ranges from 7 to 13 practices per 100,000 people, with darker shades representing fewer practices and lighter shades representing more practices.

The map shows considerable geographical variation in the availability of NHS dental practices relative to population size. Areas with fewer practices per resident are concentrated in the South West and parts of the East of England, while higher numbers of practices per resident are found across much of London, the South East and several areas in the Midlands. The graphic highlights significant regional differences in access to NHS dental practices across England.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 12/09/2026

The total number of E.coli cases in England has increased since 2012/13. Explore our #QualityWatch indicator for more on the trend in healthcare-associated infections. 👉 buff.ly/6PjUXcP

Line chart showing annual counts of Escherichia coli infections between 2012/13 and 2024/25. Headline reads: “How has the frequency of Escherichia coli infections changed over time?” The chart tracks total cases, hospital-onset cases and community-onset cases.

Total E. coli infections increased from around 32,000 in 2012/13 to nearly 44,000 in 2024/25. Cases rose steadily until 2019/20, fell sharply in 2020/21, and then increased again to reach their highest level at the end of the period.

Community-onset cases accounted for most infections throughout the period, rising from around 25,000 in 2012/13 to more than 35,000 in 2024/25. Hospital-onset cases remained comparatively stable, fluctuating between around 6,500 and 8,500 cases, with a dip in 2020/21 followed by a gradual increase.

The chart shows that the long-term rise in E. coli infections has been driven primarily by an increase in community-onset cases rather than hospital-onset cases.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 11/09/2026

In recent years, the application process for #NHS specialty training has become much more competitive for #doctors. This year a new law came in to prioritise UK-trained doctors for these roles, so we've looked at the impact this has had so far: buff.ly/8kzUb2i

Chart showing UK specialty training applications 2015–2025, where internationally trained doctors (purple) surge sharply to about 80,000 by 2025 while UK-trained applicants (blue) rise modestly to around 20,000, indicating growth is driven by internationally trained doctors.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 10/09/2026

NEW DATA: Check out how the #NHS is performing across emergency care and planned treatment. 📈 Progress on the waiting list stalled in July. View our dashboard to find out more: buff.ly/jzvqAzb

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 10/09/2026

NEW: Much of the discussion on NHS waiting lists is about how many people are waiting and for how long, but less is said on where those referrals come from. Ini Ajayi & Sophie Julian describe the rise in referrals from general practice over three years. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/the...

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 08/09/2026

Scotland's patients experience longer hospital stays than patients in England. But the outlook is more favourable on some other measures. 📊 Read our summary: buff.ly/m6EaiB6

Line chart comparing average hospital length of stay, excluding day cases, across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland between 2016–17 and 2024–25. Headline reads: “Patients in Scotland stay about two days longer in hospitals than in England”. Subheading reads: “Average length of hospital stay (excluding day cases)”.

The chart shows England consistently having the shortest average hospital stays, falling from around 4.9 days in 2016–17 to 4.3 days in 2020–21 before rising to 5.1 days in 2024–25.

Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all have longer average stays, generally between six and seven and a half days. In 2024–25, average stays were around 6.8 days in Scotland, 6.7 days in Wales and 7.4 days in Northern Ireland, compared with 5.1 days in England.

The gap between Scotland and England is around two days throughout most of the period. Northern Ireland has the longest average hospital stays by the end of the period, while Wales and Scotland remain at similar levels.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 02/09/2026

How does Wales compare with the rest of the UK? The figures show Wales is topping the charts for health service spending per head of population. 💷 Track the trend across a range of measures: buff.ly/06TsRjo

Line chart comparing health service revenue spending per person in England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland between 2015–16 and 2024–25. Headline reads: “Wales now spends more on the health service per head than any other UK country”. Subheading reads: “Health service revenue spend per capita, in real terms”.

All four countries show relatively stable spending until 2019–20, followed by a sharp increase during the Covid-19 pandemic. Spending peaked in 2020–21 or 2021–22, falling back in 2022–23, and then rising again.

By 2024–25, Wales had the highest health service spending per person at £3,418, overtaking Scotland. Scotland, Northern Ireland and England all spend around £3,200 per person, with England proportionally the lowest spender of the four countries throughout most of the period. The chart shows Wales moving from the second-highest level of spending in 2015–16 to the highest by 2024–25.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 01/09/2026

Recent guidance for delivering NHS community pharmacy services addresses several recommendations of our report on independent prescribing. ☑️ It's a sizable part of the prescribing workforce, and action to overcome barriers is crucial. 🧗‍♀️ Read the report and our recommendations: buff.ly/et0ZlWs

Treemap chart showing the composition of the prescribing workforce. Headline reads: “Independent prescribers make up around a quarter of the prescribing workforce”.

The chart is divided into four coloured blocks sized according to workforce share. Doctors make up the largest group at 76.4% and occupy around three-quarters of the chart. Independent prescribers make up the remaining quarter, comprising nurses and midwives (16.6%), pharmacists (5.5%) and allied health professionals (AHPs) (1.6%).

A label and arrow indicate that nurses and midwives, pharmacists and AHPs are independent prescribers. A note explains that the figure does not include dentists and that there were 44,187 registered dentists in the UK in April 2025.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 31/08/2026

Public mood towards the health service has turned a corner, according to the gold-standard #BritishSocialAttitudes survey. @theasrstein.bsky.social and Sarah Woolnough reflect on what this year's findings mean: 👉 buff.ly/ABFAiaj

Line chart showing public satisfaction with the way the NHS runs from 1983 to 2025. Headline reads: “Overall satisfaction with the way the NHS runs over time 1983 to 2025”. The chart tracks the percentage of respondents who were satisfied, neither satisfied nor dissatisfied, and dissatisfied with the NHS.

Satisfaction fell from around 55% in 1983 to the mid-30s in the late 1990s, then rose steadily to a peak of around 70% in 2010. After remaining relatively high through much of the 2010s, satisfaction dropped sharply from 2020 onwards, reaching a record low of 21% in 2024 before increasing to 26% in 2025.

Dissatisfaction rose from around 26% in 1983 to 50% in the late 1990s, then declined to below 20% around 2010. It increased sharply after 2020, reaching a record high of 59% in 2024 before falling to 51% in 2025.

The proportion of respondents who were neither satisfied nor dissatisfied remained comparatively stable throughout the period, generally ranging between 15% and 23%, and stood at 23% in 2025.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 30/08/2026

Private and specialist dental practices are on the rise across England 📈 What does this mean for NHS dentistry? Check out our latest analysis to find out more: buff.ly/ZWoovUC

Choropleth map of England showing the percentage change in dental practices not offering NHS general dentistry between 2016/17 and 2025/26. Headline reads: “Private and specialist dental practices rise across England”.

Text states: “% change in practices not offering NHS general dentistry (2016/17-2025/26). Average across England: 32%”. A colour scale ranges from 0% to 53%, with darker shades representing larger increases in practices not offering NHS general dentistry.

The map shows increases across all parts of England, but with considerable variation between areas. Darker-shaded areas in the South West, the North East, parts of eastern England and several regions in the Midlands indicate some of the largest increases. Lighter-shaded areas in parts of the South East, London and central southern England show smaller increases. The graphic highlights the widespread growth of private and specialist dental practices across England over the period.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 28/08/2026

Need an NHS dentist? For many new patients, this is easier said than done Our latest analysis looks at the availability of NHS general dentistry across England, showing that new patients are struggling to get appointments. ➡️ Take a look at the full report here: buff.ly/ZWoovUC

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 25/08/2026

Overall #NHS staffing stats can sometimes hide the full story. For example, nurses have increased overall in recent years, but for some specialties the opposite it true. 👩‍⚕️ Read more in our NHS workforce in numbers explainer: www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/resource/the...

Chart showing percentage change in number of nurses by type from Dec 2015 to Dec 2025: Children's nurses +41%, Adult nurses +38%, Mental health nurses +30%, Community health nurses +18%, Learning disability nurses −10%.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 24/08/2026

🆕 Dentists drift to the private sector: 1 in 10 #NHS dental practices have abandoned the NHS general dentistry contract since 2017. 🦷 The decline in NHS #dentistry has been particurlay steep in the South West and East of England. Read our analysis: www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/th...

Map of England showing the percentage change in dental practices offering NHS general dentistry between 2016/17 and 2025/26, by integrated care board (ICB). The number of practices fell in almost all areas, with an average decline of 10% across England. Changes range from a 27% decrease to a 1% increase, with the largest declines concentrated in the South West. Source: Nuffield Trust analysis of CQC active-location and NHS BSA contractor files.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 22/08/2026

Where has the NHS waiting list stood this summer? 📋️ In June, there were over 7.2 million cases and over 6 million patients waiting to start elective NHS treatment in England. That's fewer cases than last June, but an increase since March. Explore our #QualityWatch dashboard: buff.ly/WHMkeEt

Graphic split into two panels showing trends in NHS consultant-led elective waiting lists. The left panel is titled “Cases waiting to start treatment” and the right panel is titled “Unique patients waiting to start treatment”.
The left panel shows 7.27 million cases waiting to start treatment in June 2026. This was 6,093 fewer than in May 2026, but 2.76 million more than in June 2019. A line chart shows the waiting list rising from around 4 million cases in 2017 to a peak of almost 7.8 million in 2023, before falling slightly to 7.27 million in 2026.
The right panel shows 6.15 million unique patients waiting to start treatment in June 2026. This was 4,966 fewer than in May 2026 and 78,762 fewer than in June 2025. A line chart shows the number of patients waiting increasing from around 5 million in 2021 to more than 6.4 million in 2023, before remaining broadly stable at just over 6 million through to 2026.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 20/08/2026

Our study found a clear link between deprivation and women's use of emergency care in the year after giving birth. In the most deprived areas of England, 27% of deliveries were followed by an emergency hospital contact, compared with 17% in the least deprived. Read the report: buff.ly/v1RkPIL

Bar chart showing the proportion of deliveries followed by an emergency hospital contact in the first year after birth across five deprivation quintiles. Headline reads: “Women living in deprived areas are more likely to attend A&E in the first year after birth”. Subheading reads: “Deliveries followed by an emergency hospital contact”. Five bars decrease in height from the most deprived to the least deprived areas, with rates falling from 27% in the most deprived quintile to 17% in the least deprived quintile. A dashed horizontal line marks the average rate at 22%. The chart shows that women living in more deprived areas of England are substantially more likely to have an emergency hospital contact in the year after giving birth.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 16/08/2026

Mark spoke to us about the post-Brexit workforce trend - which may come as a surprise to some.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 15/08/2026

England is embarking on a Big Conversation about the future of its social care system. Its starting point is as an outlier in how it applies a financial means test to state-supported care. Read how England compares with 11 other countries and regions: buff.ly/z9hYeWN

Graphic featuring an icon of a pound symbol inside a circle crossed by a diagonal green line, alongside a tick and cross symbol. Headline reads: “England is one of few systems where access to any public funding for care is restricted by how much money people have”. Supporting text states: “All the countries and regions we studied require people to go through an assessment of their needs to access public funding. But England is unique in also requiring a financial means test for any state-funded support.”

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 11/08/2026

The proportion of dementia-related deaths occurring in hospitals decreased from 30.9% in 2016 to 26.3% in 2023. Read more about this and other #QualityWatch indicators of health and care in England 🔎 👉 buff.ly/I0qidEU

Line chart showing the proportion of dementia-related deaths occurring in hospital between 2016 and 2023. Headline reads: “How has the proportion of deaths associated with dementia that occurred in a hospital changed over time?” The chart shows a gradual decline from around 30.9% in 2016 to around 25% in 2020, followed by a partial increase to around 28% in 2021 and 2022 before falling slightly to 26.3% in 2023. Subheading reads: “Proportion of dementia related deaths in hospital”.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 09/08/2026

Our analysis identified several factors affecting women's risk of going to hospital in an emergency in the year after giving birth in England. Especially notable was the relationship with having a mental health diagnosis. Read the report: buff.ly/f9lvOLD

Graphic comparing emergency care use after birth among mothers with and without a mental health condition. Headline reads: “Having a mental health condition is associated with an increased risk of needing emergency hospital care post-birth”. Two large pink blocks are shown side by side, with the taller block displaying 30% and the shorter block 19%. Text explains that 30% of mothers with a mental ill health diagnosis had an emergency care visit, compared with 19% of mothers without a mental health condition.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 08/08/2026

How do social care systems manage different costs? For residential care, the UK countries bundle care and accommodation costs together, but many of the countries and regions we studied treat them separately. Find out more: ➡️ buff.ly/z9hYeWN

Graphic featuring a simple outline of a house with a green square at its centre. Headline reads: “Most systems treat accommodation costs separately”. Supporting text states: “Separating accommodation from care costs offers a greater level of transparency as to what people are paying for, allows them to pay more or less for the level of luxury desired, and focuses the social contract on care only. It does, however, mean that people in residential care can be at risk of substantial bills for living costs.”

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 03/08/2026

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 👇

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 30/07/2026

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...

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 29/07/2026

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

Infographic on a light grey background using rows of illustrated baby icons to represent 1.6 million births analysed. Headline reads: “We analysed… 1.6 million births”. Below, five outlined person icons are shown, with one highlighted in orange. Headline reads: “we found…” followed by the statistic: “1 in 5 women attend A&E in the year after giving birth”. The graphic highlights that analysis of 1.6 million births found that one in five women attend A&E within a year of childbirth.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 28/07/2026

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

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 25/07/2026

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

Simple graphic on a light grey background featuring a green curved arrow pointing down between two horizontal lines, representing a gradual transition rather than a sudden drop. Headline reads: “Means tests can be designed to feel fair and avoid cliff edges.” Supporting text explains that having to sell a home to pay for care is a persistent source of discontent in England, and that Australia uses tapers and exemptions to gradually increase contributions as people’s means change. It adds that some countries require people to contribute a share of their income without forcing them to sell assets.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 24/07/2026

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

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 21/07/2026

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 👇

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 19/07/2026

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

Graphic featuring a green tick and cross icon connected by an upward-pointing arrow. Large headline reads: “Countries/regions have different approaches to what is a fair, equal and equitable contribution”. Supporting text explains that all countries examined except Denmark expect eligible individuals to contribute to the cost of their care. Germany provides an equal allowance based on need regardless of wealth, while Japan and Australia combine universal support with means-tested contributions.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 18/07/2026

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

There is a head and shoulders silhouette of three women, with two of the three coloured in. Below the silhouettes there is a large text graphic saying that 2 in 3 mothers had at least one pre-existing health condition. The text goes on to say that some of the most common pre-existing conditions were obesity, diabetes and hypertension - all potentially preventable.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 16/07/2026

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)

An image with two charts side-by-side. The chart on the left shows the number of cases waiting to start NHS treatment in England. There were 7.28 million cases on the waiting list in May 2026, up 60k on the previous month. The chart on the right shows the percentage of patients waiting 18 weeks or less between referral and starting treatment in the NHS in England. The percentage had crept up to 65.6% in May 2026 but is still way below the target of 92% in the NHS constitution, or the objective for 70% for 2026/27.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 15/07/2026

NEW RESEARCH: 1 in 5 women attend A&E in the year after giving birth, with stark inequalities rooted long before pregnancy. Ethnicity, deprivation and health before pregnancy all have a big impact on whether a mother will need emergency care. Read the report: buff.ly/y1df9pP

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 06/07/2026

NEW paper: Independent advocacy in maternity care creates opportunities for families to be listened to and heard. #RSET researchers, funded by @nihr.bsky.social, spoke to 34 families eligible for support during the Maternity and Neonatal Independent Senior Advocate pilot. 🔎 Read: buff.ly/A0xmUUn

Cover graphic displaying the title of the RSET paper: That's All We Wanted, to Be Heard, Listened to, Just to Be Validated and Believed”: Family Experiences of Advocacy Support in Maternity and Neonatal Services.

Follow the link in our post to read the paper.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 04/07/2026

Has the UK's post-Brexit freedom to strike its own trade deals helped or hindered the NHS and health? Ten years on from the EU referendum, @markgdayan.bsky.social explains the picture today.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 30/06/2026

Our research highlights the barriers prisoners face when accessing A&E services. Miranda Davies, co-author of our recent report, summarises the findings in an article for public sector focus. Read the article 👉 buff.ly/6zcaGyt

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 25/06/2026

ICB exec and non-exec board members, and senior directors of strategy and transformation: There's just one day left to respond to our survey and help inform this year's CQC State of Care report. 👉 buff.ly/bnHBoFe The survey closes at midnight on Friday 26 June - we greatly value your input.

Description of the scope of this year's survey for the CQC State of Care report. The three key themes of the survey are: developing neighbourhood health and community-based care; reducing health inequalities; and supporting children and young people. Follow the link in our post for the full details. The survey closes at midnight on Friday 26 June 2026.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 23/06/2026

Ten years on from the EU referendum, how has Brexit changed NHS and social care staffing? We asked @markgdayan.bsky.social, our policy analyst leading research on the effects of Brexit on health and care.

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 18/06/2026

The NHS in England met a big interim target in last month's performance data update - but how is it performing now? Scroll through our #QualityWatch dashboard for the latest 📊 👉 buff.ly/UVeKmtH

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