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Nuffield Trust

@nuffieldtrust.org.uk
12K followers 294 following 1.1K posts

We are an independent health think tank aiming to improve the quality of health care in the UK by providing evidence-based research & policy analysis. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk

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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 5h
NEW: The Prime Minister’s commitment to social care reform is clear. After he yesterday pledged a National Care Service that is free at the point of use, @camille-oung.bsky.social looks at what “personal care” means and calls for clarity on terminology. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/wh...
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
What does the Prime Minister mean by a National Care Service?
The Prime Minister’s commitment to reforming social care has become emphatically clear again this week. After he pledged a National Care Service that is free at the point of use, Camille Oung looks at...
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 10h
@natashacurry.bsky.social said Burnham's speech had left “important questions unanswered over exactly how the system he envisages would compare to what we have now, who can expect to receive ‘free’ care, and what types of support are included”. Read more in the FT 👇
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 29/09/2026
Today Andy Burnham set out his vision for the future of social care.   Social care policy expert @natashacurry.bsky.social responds to his announcements: what they could mean for reform, and what questions remain? Read Natasha's reaction 👇
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Nuffield Trust response to the Prime Minister's announcements on social care at Labour Party Conference
Natasha Curry responds to the Prime Minister's comments at the Labour Party Conference.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 29/09/2026
What can England learn from Scotland's 2018 GP contract reforms? Eight years on, its central promises remain largely undelivered. In a new briefing, @becksfisher.bsky.social and co-authors from the Health Equity Evidence Centre explore why and set out six lessons for England. 👇️ buff.ly/dAvwqAx
buff.ly
Reforming general practice in England: What can be learned from the 2018 Scottish GMS contract reforms?
Scotland's 2018 GP contract set out to cut GP workload and narrow health inequalities. Eight years on, its central promises remain largely undelivered – not through lack of ambition, but because of…
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 28/09/2026
We've found that England's PIP recipient rate for ADHD or autism among 16-17-year-olds has risen fastest in the more prosperous parts of the country. Read more about the trend in the Telegraph 📰
telegraph.co.uk
Revealed: The middle-class benefits boom
Welfare has long been stereotyped as a working-class domain, but research shows affluent teenagers are quickly catching their deprived peers
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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 · 28/09/2026
Burnham again reiterated his commitment to social care reform along ‘NHS principles’ in an interview with the BBC on Sunday. But key questions will need to be resolved if reform is to be achieved. @natashacurry.bsky.social set them out when Burnham took office back in July 👇
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
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...
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 27/09/2026
What policy pitfalls will Yvette Cooper be keen to avoid as Secretary of State for Health and Social Care? After Wes Streeting's resignation in May, @markgdayan.bsky.social took stock of the lessons from his tenure ⚖️ buff.ly/mUjcD3a
buff.ly
What can Wes Streeting’s successor learn from his record on the NHS and social care?
With Wes Streeting moving on from his role as the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Mark Dayan looks back at his tenure and picks out the key lessons that his successor would do well to…
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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 · 25/09/2026
As in times past, Labour made improving the NHS a key part of its platform for government at the last general election. Two years on, what are the prospects for improvement? @leonoramerry.bsky.social compares the position of two Labour governments to find out 👇
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Things can only get better? But this is not the 1990s
As new analysis this week compares the NHS that Labour inherited in 1997 with the health service in 2024 – both landmark years for the party after coming to power after a long time in opposition – Leo...
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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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Reposted by Nuffield Trust
The Guardian @theguardian.com · 22/09/2026
Young people’s Pip claims for ADHD and autism ‘rising fastest in affluent areas’
theguardian.com
Young people’s Pip claims for ADHD and autism ‘rising fastest in affluent areas’
Experts say trend across England probably reflects swifter access to diagnoses as wealthier families go private Some of the most affluent areas of England have had the sharpest rises in the proportion of young people claiming disability benefits for ADHD and autism since the pandemic, according to new research. Claims for the personal independence payment (Pip) benefit for these health conditions were typically proportionally far higher in deprived areas with higher rates of poverty, low educational outcomes and insecure employment. Continue reading...
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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 · 19/09/2026
The PM wants England to have a social care system that's highly integrated with the NHS. But Rachel Hutchings argues that NHS continuing health care can't be left out of the conversation if that ambition is to be realised. buff.ly/v318TKU
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Social care reform: how should CHC feature?
With NHS continuing health care (CHC) mirroring many of the problems facing social care, Rachel Hutchings argues that it must be central to any discussion about social care reform. The blog was…
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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
This week's letter from six parliamentary committee chairs "really underlines the strength of public interest in transparency" over the UK-US pharmaceuticals agreement, @sallygainsbury.bsky.social tells Politico's Caroline Hug. 🗞️ Get the story 👇
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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 · 15/09/2026
What are the government's prospects for improving public satisfaction with the NHS? @leonoramerry.bsky.social says that comparing the 2024 and 1997 Labour governments shows negative attitudes are not set in stone, but turning things around may be even tougher today. buff.ly/phsEOqp
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Things can only get better? But this is not the 1990s
As new analysis this week compares the NHS that Labour inherited in 1997 with the health service in 2024 – both landmark years for the party after coming to power after a long time in opposition –…
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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 · 11/09/2026
The #AssistedDying Bill is back in parliament for another vote today. Last year our researchers took a detailed look at how other countries have gone about setting up assisted dying services, and what some of the common issues have been. 👇️ buff.ly/mwL02kY
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Assisted dying in practice: International experiences and implications for health and social care
Exploring 15 jurisdictions across the world, this is the most detailed look to date at what the UK can learn from other countries as the UK and Scottish Parliaments debate bills to legalise assisted…
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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: Can things only get better for the NHS? @leonoramerry.bsky.social looks at the similarities and differences between the health service in 1997 and in 2024 and describes why improving the public's satisfaction with the NHS may be tougher this time. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/th...
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Things can only get better? But this is not the 1990s
As new analysis this week compares the NHS that Labour inherited in 1997 with the health service in 2024 – both landmark years for the party after coming to power after a long time in opposition – Leo...
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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 · 09/09/2026
With the problems in NHS Continuing Healthcare mirroring many of the issues affecting social care, Rachel Hutchings argues that CHC must be central to any discussion about social care reform. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/so...
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Social care reform: how should CHC feature?
With NHS continuing health care (CHC) mirroring many of the problems facing social care, Rachel Hutchings argues that it must be central to any discussion about social care reform. The blog was origin...
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Reposted by Nuffield Trust
The King's Fund @thekingsfund.bsky.social · 08/09/2026
British Social Attitudes chapter 43, ‘Waiting for treatment: can the NHS recover?’, co-authored by Sir John Curtice at NatCen, The King’s Fund, and Nuffield Trust, compares Labour’s NHS inheritance in 1997 and 2024. Read the full chapter: bit.ly/4xKhaWc
natcen.ac.uk
BSA 43 | Waiting for treatment | National Centre for Social Research
This chapter compares Labour's NHS inheritance in 1997 and 2024, exploring the causes of rising and falling public satisfaction.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 09/09/2026
Our Chief Executive @theasrstein.bsky.social told HSJ that there's a risk Martha’s Rule is just a sticking plaster for maternity services... “It should be a spur to fix how NHS staff communicate and listen, not a well-run mechanism for managing the fallout when they don’t.” buff.ly/gAArDRC
hsj.co.uk
Exclusive: ‘Landmark’ safety policy was barely tested before launch
The "Martha's Rule for maternity services" was used just 13 times in a national pilot before being cited by government and adopted by ministers as a solution to the maternity crisis, HSJ can reveal.
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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 · 07/09/2026
We've published our latest briefing on the Health Bill, ahead of its report stage in the House of Commons. Read what our experts have to say 🔍️ buff.ly/7D46pIE
buff.ly
Health Bill: Report Stage briefing
The Health Bill involves historic changes in how patient data is used at the front line, and the largest restructure of the English NHS since 2012. This briefing presents our understanding of the…
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 06/09/2026
The likelihood of facing a long wait for an A&E bed is not the same for all patients. @stutibagri.bsky.social explains that elderly people and patients with complex clinical needs are the most likely to be face long waits. Read Stuti's Comment Central piece 👇 buff.ly/exY1Cm3
commentcentral.co.uk
Pulling the curtain back on A&E hospital services
Within the realm of news reporting on the NHS, accident and emergency (A&E) services are a particularly popular topic. Scrutiny on the service garners a lot ...
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 05/09/2026
Patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) is essential to the success of many health and care research projects, but it's tricky to deliver well. Pei Li Ng and Raj Mehta reflect on what a new NIHR #RSET can tell us ✍️ buff.ly/hNE3mHy
buff.ly
Can PPIE still be meaningful when time is tight? Navigating trade-offs in rapid evaluations
Pei Li Ng and Raj Mehta discuss the findings from a new NIHR RSET paper on embedding patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) across rapid evaluations. The authors state that meaningful…
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Reposted by Nuffield Trust
Ellie Pearson-Martin @elliemartin.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
The government says they "make no apologies for prioritising the progression of UK-trained doctors". But the policy raises some tricky questions. Are we still getting the best doctors? Could this lead to staffing shortfalls in some specialties?
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Reposted by Nuffield Trust
Ellie Pearson-Martin @elliemartin.bsky.social · 04/09/2026
A new law has dramatically reduced overseas-trained doctors' chances of securing specialty training places, says @nuffieldtrust.org.uk analysis. www.independent.co.uk/news/health/...
independent.co.uk
New law prioritising UK medical graduates leads to boost in homegrown doctors
Analysis of NHS data found a change in the law in March has achieved its aim of prioritising medics trained in the NHS over those who trained overseas
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 04/09/2026
NEW: Analysis from @lkrole.bsky.social & Kathryn Marszalek shows that a new law has reduced the chances of doctors from overseas securing NHS specialty training places – with the proportion falling from more than one in four to less than one in 50. www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/hi...
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
High priority? The past, present and future of specialty training recruitment
Heightened competition for specialty training posts – the final training stage before becoming a GP or consultant – has become a significant issue for the medical profession, with the number of applic...
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 03/09/2026
NEW: In a @nihr.bsky.social #RSET blog, @peili-ng.bsky.social & Raj Mehta discuss embedding PPIE across rapid evaluations. They state that meaningful PPIE in rapid evaluation is not about involving people as much as possible, but involving them purposefully www.nuffieldtrust.org.uk/news-item/ca...
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Can PPIE still be meaningful when time is tight? Navigating trade-offs in rapid evaluations
Pei Li Ng and Raj Mehta discuss the findings from a new NIHR RSET paper on embedding patient and public involvement and engagement (PPIE) across rapid evaluations. The authors state that meaningful PP...
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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 · 29/08/2026
Wanting to shift more care out of hospitals and into community settings is nothing new, but past efforts to do this in England have often come up short. We've looked at how the shift has been approached in Denmark and the Republic of Ireland. 🗺️ Read about the key lessons 👇 buff.ly/XnzOND8
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Moving care out of hospital: what can England learn from other countries?
With the 10 Year Plan for England having a strong emphasis on shifting more care out of hospitals and into the community, over the past year we have been studying other health systems which have had…
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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
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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Reposted by Nuffield Trust
Patient Safety Learning @patientsafetylearning.org · 27/08/2026
Added to the hub, a QualityWatch Indicator from @nuffieldtrust.org.uk which explores patient safety in hospitals. www.pslhub.org/learn/resear... #patientsafety
pslhub.org
QualityWatch Indicator: Safety of hospital care (Nuffield Trust, 27 August 2026)
This indictor explores patient safety in hospitals by examining inpatient falls and pressure ulcers, blood clots following hospital care and whether patients are told about medication side effects to…
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 27/08/2026
Our Senior Policy Analyst @sallygainsbury.bsky.social has served a Notice of Appeal asking the Information Rights Tribunal to review the ICO decision to allow the government to withhold its impact assessment of the 2025 pharmaceutical trade deal with the US. @theasrstein.bsky.social explains why 👇
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
UK-US medicines deal: the public interest in publishing the evidence behind it
The Information Commissioner's Office decided last month that the Department of Health and Social Care can continue to withhold the government’s impact assessment of the UK-US pharmaceuticals trade de...
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 27/08/2026
With new NHS England data on dentistry released today, @theasrstein.bsky.social shares our view on what it shows us about what we've been describing as a two-tier service. Read Thea's statement 👇
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Access to NHS dental care remains poor despite boost in treatments delivered
Nuffield Trust Chief Executive, Thea Stein, responds to new annual statistics from NHS England on dental activity and the dental workforce.
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Reposted by Nuffield Trust
ADASS @adass.bsky.social · 26/08/2026
Rachel Hutchings discusses why NHS Continuing Healthcare must be a government priority as part of wider conversations on social care reform. Read the full blog here: www.adass.org.uk/winds-of-change-how-should-nhs-continuing-healthcare-feature-in-social-care-reform/
adass.org.uk
Winds of change: how should NHS Continuing Healthcare feature in social care reform?  - ADASS
Rachel Hutchings, Fellow at Nuffield Trust, discusses why NHS Continuing Healthcare must be a government priority as part of wider conversations on social care reform.
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Nuffield Trust @nuffieldtrust.org.uk · 26/08/2026
The decision to abolish NHS England one of the landmark health policy moments of last year. As its practical implications continue to be worked through, what can we learn from past NHS restructures? Read our December 2025 report with the @instituteforgovernment.org.uk 👇
nuffieldtrust.org.uk
Abolished to perfection? Building a better centre for the NHS
Reorganisation has been a regular feature of NHS history, but has often failed to deliver its goals. The abolition of NHS England marks the biggest restructure of the health service’s command structur...
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