Should we be concerned about health care spending?
This week, the King’s Fund launched a landmark headline project from their new strategy: Good health for all: reimagining the welfare state. Through this project, they ask three big questions:
What does a future welfare state need to look like?
How do we build a health and care system that is compassionate, equitable and fit for the future, with people at its heart?
What does this mean for the relationships between individuals, communities and the state?
To kick off the new project, they explore the public health crisis 'welfare crunch' and debate whether we should be worried about future forecasted health care spending.
Meanwhile, apply to their exciting project officer position, get your early bird ticket to the Health and care explained event, and register for Building Your Authority leadership course.
Should we be concerned about a forecasted doubling of health care spending?
Spending on health is the largest single item of public spending in the UK, with it set to double in the next 50 years. Sarah Arnold asks why this is the case. Is it inevitable, or a problem, and most importantly, what can we do about it? Their new long read explores what’s driving this rise and how we can create better health, not just treat illness.
Public sector crises, ‘the welfare crunch’ and the future of health and care
'The welfare state, as imagined by the Beveridge report in 1942 and implemented by governments following the second world war, seems to be running out of steam.' Luca Tiratelli explores the growing ‘welfare crunch’ and why King’s Fund are launching a new project to reimagine the future of health and care.
Prevention remains a central aspect of the government’s reform story for health and one of the three shifts set out in the 10 Year Health Plan.
One useful yardstick of how commitments to prevention translate into hard cash is how much central government allocates to the local government public health grant, data for which goes back over many years.
This grant funds preventive activity and treatment across an array of services from smoking cessation to childhood obesity interventions. So, what do the latest set of allocations and wider trends reveal? And is that the full story?
17-18 JUN - Health and care explained 2026, The King's Fund, from 10am
Join the King’s Fund virtually over two days, as policy and leadership experts unravel the complexities of England’s health care system as it faces a year of challenge and change.
Don’t miss out – early bird tickets available until 16 March.
SEPT-OCT - Building your authority, 20 September – 7 October 2026
The King’s Fund’s Building your Authority programme is designed to support leaders at all levels to work more effectively towards positive change within a challenging and evolving health and care system. The programme offers a reflective space to take stock, review your leadership journey and prepare for future challenges.