Health Management and Policy Alert: 17 April 2026
Delivering the National Cancer Plan
The National Cancer Plan sets out a bold ambition to modernise cancer services. This long read considers what's needed to make services ready for innovation, following a roundtable of clinical, policy, research and patient advocacy voices.
NHS England
Workforce Race Equality Standard: 2025 data analysis report for NHS trusts
The 2025 Workforce Race Equality Standard (WRES) dataset is the 10th publication since the WRES was mandated and it covers nine indicators. This dataset enables organisations to compare their performance with others in their region and those providing similar services, with the aim of encouraging improvement by learning and sharing good practice. It also provides a national picture of WRES in practice and developments in the workforce race equality agenda.
Institute for Public Policy Research
Bismarck versus Beveridge revisited: does the model shape the outcome?
This report finds that there is no evidence that insurance-based healthcare systems outperform tax-funded systems. The analysis – spanning 22 high-income countries – concludes that switching the NHS to a European-style insurance system would not improve performance across measures of capacity, access, quality, efficiency and equity. The report says that health system outcomes vary far more within funding models than between them. It finds that the causes of poor NHS performance are not structural but practical, and sets out four areas in which targeted investment would make the most difference for the NHS.
Re-engage
Care on hold: why digital-first GP access risks excluding older people
This report finds that one in three people aged 75 and over can only get to see their doctor if they book digitally, and the same proportion feel they are cut off from care. With nearly 90% of older people still trying to make appointments by phone or in person, Re-engage believes many of them are being cut off from their doctor, which risks increasing their loneliness and isolation. The report calls on UK governments to make accessing GP appointments easier for older people as many practices continue to insist on online bookings only.
Department of Health and Social Care
Framework agreement between DHSC and NHS Resolution 2026 to 2029
This framework agreement outlines how the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS Resolution will work together, setting out roles, responsibilities, governance and accountability arrangements.
International recruitment regional fund for the adult social care sector 2026 to 2027
This guidance is for eligible regional and sub-regional partnerships that deliver the international recruitment regional fund. It sets out the aims of the fund and the conditions for partnerships to access the grant. One of the main aims of the fund in the 2026 to 2027 financial year is to support international care workers impacted by sponsor licence revocations (displaced workers) into new ethical employment as quickly as possible. It also aims to proactively engage with adult social care providers to encourage recruitment of displaced workers and promote ethical recruitment practices.
Community Pharmacy England
Cholesterol point of care testing in community pharmacy
Community pharmacies across North East London took part in a pilot programme commissioned by Barts Health NHS Trust to deliver cholesterol point of care testing. The initiative formed part of a wider strategy to address declining cardiovascular disease detection rates following the Covid-19 pandemic, during which routine monitoring significantly decreased. By offering cholesterol testing alongside existing NHS blood pressure checks, the programme aimed to redesign pathways, strengthen integration across sectors and deliver cardiovascular prevention closer to home to provide patients with a more comprehensive cardiovascular risk assessment in highly-accessible community settings.
The Food Foundation
How the quality of school food can be improved to increase uptake
This briefing shows how improving the quality of food leads to more children eating school food and demonstrating that this is what young people need. The briefing brings together two powerful bodies of evidence to make that case. First, the experiences and voices of young people themselves - what they are currently being served, why it matters to them, and what they want to change. Second, case studies from schools across the country that have already transformed what they serve - going further and faster on healthy food than current standards require.
NHS Employers
Estates and facilities placements for T Level students with Pennine Care
Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust provides mental health and learning disability services across Greater Manchester. The estates and facilities management (EFM) team supports the trust across its 88 locations in five Greater Manchester boroughs, ensuring safe, efficient and well-maintained environments for patients, staff and visitors. T Level industry placements were identified as an opportunity to attract new talent into the EFM workforce in addition to developing existing staff through apprenticeships and training pathways. A robust industry placement offer was developed, working closely with a local education provider.
Statistics
NHS acute (hospital) trust catchment populations: April 2026, Office for Health Improvement and Disparities, 14 April 2026
The Health Management and Policy Alert is produced by The King's Fund. Its purpose is to alert subscribers to recently published content that is relevant to health and care policy in England. Inclusion of material in the alert does not imply endorsement of either the content or the publisher by The King's Fund. Subscribers should use personal judgement when considering the work included in The King’s Fund emails.