Member briefings: what you need to know

Our member briefings digest and analyse the latest developments in health and care, supporting members to stay informed and in the know.
Teal ovals over a pale grey background.

Sign up for our newsletters to get more of the NHS Confederation delivered straight to your inbox.

The Houses of Parliament viewed from across the River Thames.
Briefing

Mental health bill 2024: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of the government manifesto commitment to modernise mental health legislation to give patients greater choice.

14 November 2024
An assortment of UK bank notes.
Briefing

Autumn Budget 2024: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of the Autumn Budget and what it means for health and care.

30 October 2024
Close up of a doctor checking medical records.
Briefing

Dash review of the CQC: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of Dr Penny Dash's review into the operational effectiveness of the Care Quality Commission (CQC).

15 October 2024
Nurse holding a coffee mug staring our of a large window, with a mask on.
Briefing

The Darzi investigation: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of Lord Darzi's independent investigation of the NHS in England.

12 September 2024
The Houses of Parliament.
Briefing

King's Speech 2024: what you need to know

Analysis of what the King’s Speech means for the health service under the new government.

17 July 2024
Meeting handshake
Briefing

NHS Provider Selection Regime

A summary of the new procurement process replacing all other healthcare service commissioning processes for relevant authorities in England.

31 May 2024
Healthcare workers walking down a hospital corridor.
Briefing

2024/25 NHS priorities and operational planning guidance

Summary and analysis of NHS England’s operational planning guidance and priorities for the service in 2024/25.

28 March 2024
An assortment of UK bank notes.
Briefing

Spring Budget 2024

Key points and analysis from the Spring Budget 2024.

6 March 2024
Two women on a park bench, one wearing headphones while the other holds the device.
Briefing

Inclusive digital healthcare: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of recent policy on inclusive digital healthcare.

26 January 2024
A mother and baby at a GP appointment.
Briefing

Primary care provider collaboratives: what you need to know

An in-depth look at primary care provider collaboratives.

15 December 2023
Pound coins and bank notes
Briefing

Autumn Statement 2023: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of what the Autumn Statement means for health and care.

22 November 2023
The Houses of Parliament viewed from across the River Thames.
Briefing

King's Speech 2023: what you need to know

Analysis of what the King’s Speech means for the health service.

7 November 2023
A general practitioner talking with patients.
Briefing

The major conditions strategy ‘case for change’ and strategic framework

The extent to which the framework for the major conditions strategy aligns with recommendations from health and care leaders.

1 September 2023
An illustration of four diverse health and care staff standing in a row.
Briefing

NHS Long Term Workforce Plan: what you need to know

The NHS long-term workforce plan describes how it will rebuild the NHS workforce through training, retention and reform, but omits social care.

30 June 2023
A sign reading "Whitehall, SW1, City of Westminster".
Briefing

The government’s response to the Hewitt review and the Health and Social Care Select Committee report

Summary and analysis of the government's response to the Hewitt review, and to the Health and Social Care Select Committee's inquiry into ICSs.

20 June 2023
A street sign showing " Parliament Street" to the left and "Whitehall" to the right.
Briefing

The government’s 2023 mandate for NHS England

Summary and analysis of the mandate to NHS England, setting out the government's objectives for 2023 onwards.

19 June 2023
A smiling general practitioner, consulting a patient.
Briefing

Delivery plan for recovering primary care access

A summary of the key areas relevant to integrated care boards in NHS England's delivery plan for the recovery of primary care access.

10 May 2023
A hospital corridor
Briefing

Hewitt review: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of Rt Hon Patricia Hewitt's review into the oversight, governance and accountability of integrated care systems (ICSs).

4 April 2023
An NHS sign on the side of a building.
Briefing

CQC’s assessment of integrated care systems: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of the Care Quality Commission's update and interim guidance on its approach to assessing integrated care systems.

Pound coins and bank notes
Briefing

Spring Budget 2023: what you need to know

Analysis of what the Spring Budget means for health and care.

15 March 2023
A general practitioner thinking in his consultation room.
Briefing

GP Contract changes 2023/24: what you need to know

Primary Care Network summary and analysis of changes to the GP Contract in 2023/24.

9 March 2023
A hospital corridor.
Briefing

2023/24 NHS priorities and operational planning guidance: what you need to know

Overview and analysis of NHS England’s operational planning guidance and priorities for the service in 2023/24.

A pile of pound coins.
Briefing

Autumn Statement 2022: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of what the Autumn Statement means for health and care.

17 November 2022
A meeting at a general practice.
Briefing

'The future of general practice' report: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of the findings from the Health and Social Care Select Committee’s inquiry into the future of general practice.

31 October 2022
A floor-level view of a hospital ward.
Briefing

The State of Care report: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of the Care Quality Commission's annual report on the state of health and care in England.

21 October 2022
An NHS sign in a car park.
Briefing

NHS England’s new operating framework

A summary of NHS England's new operating framework for the NHS.

14 October 2022
Pound coins and bank notes
Briefing

September Fiscal Statement: what you need to know

A summary of the government's Growth Plan for the UK economy, announced today by the Chancellor of the Exchequer.

23 September 2022
A sign reading "Whitehall, SW1, City of Westminster".
Briefing

Secretary of State's plan for patients: what you need to know

Analysis of what Our Plan for Patients means for the NHS ahead of winter.

22 September 2022
Members meeting around a table
Briefing

Integrated care strategy, health and wellbeing board and joint forward plan guidance

A summary of DHSC and NHSE guidance on integrated care strategy development, HWBs and partnership working, and the joint forward plan.

17 January 2023
An NHS sign on the side of a building.
Briefing

NHS Oversight Framework 2022/23: what you need to know

Overview and analysis of the NHS Oversight Framework for 2022/23.

12 July 2022
Healthcare staff walking on ward
Briefing

The Messenger Review of NHS leadership: what you need to know

Our summary and analysis of the review of leadership in health and social care, led by General Sir Gordon Messenger and Dame Linda Pollard.

A meeting at a general practice.
Briefing

Next steps for integrating primary care: what you need to know

A summary of Dr Claire Fuller's report on the next steps for integrating primary care.

Bird's eye view of the Houses of Parliament.
Briefing

Queen’s Speech 2022: what you need to know

Analysis of what the Queen’s Speech means for the health service.

10 May 2022
Pound coins
Briefing

Spring Statement 2022: what you need to know

Analysis of what the Spring Statement means for health and social care.

23 March 2022
An NHS sign in a car park.
Analysis

NHS performance data: what you need to know

Commentary and analysis on what accounts for the pressures on the NHS, how they are being experienced across the system, and how organisations and staff are rising to the challenge.

Two surgeons assessing a scan.
Briefing

Elective recovery plan: what you need to know

A summary of the national elective recovery plan and analysis of what it means for our members.

11 February 2022
A doctor looking at scans on a tablet.
Briefing

The war on cancer: what you need to know

A deep dive into the latest cancer data, how the NHS is recovering services, how members are supporting patients and what the government can do.

A street sign showing " Parliament Street" to the left and "Whitehall" to the right.
Briefing

The integration white paper: what you need to know

Overview and analysis of the integration white paper and how we will be supporting members.

10 February 2022
A crowded street viewed at waist hieght.
Briefing

Levelling up the UK: what you need to know

Our overview and analysis of the levelling up white paper and what it means for the health and care sector.

8 February 2022
An NHS sign in a car park.
Briefing

2022/23 planning guidance: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of NHS England and NHS Improvement's latest operational planning guidance and priorities for the service in 2022/23.

Pound coins
Briefing

Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021: what you need to know

Summary and analysis of the Budget and Spending Review 2021 and the implications for health and care.

An NHS sign on the side of a building.
Briefing

2021/22 planning guidance update: what you need to know

A summary and our viewpoint of the key issues surrounding the recent planning guidance.

Senior leaders in a meeting in a boardroom
Briefing

Integrated care partnerships: what you need to know

An overview of national guidance setting out expectations for the role of integrated care partnerships within integrated care systems.

People seated listening to a presentation, slightly blurred
Briefing

HR framework for developing integrated care boards: what you need to know

A summary for members of NHS England and NHS Improvement's HR framework for the transition to integrated care boards.

The Houses of Parliament.
Briefing

The health and care bill: what you need to know

Overview and analysis of the health and care bill, the priority issues for members and our view on the detail and what lies ahead.

People connected by lines
Briefing

ICS design framework: what you need to know

Our overview of NHS England and NHS Improvement's expectations for the next stage of system development.

Bird's eye view of the Houses of Parliament.
Briefing

The Queen's Speech 2021: what you need to know

An overview of the Queen’s Speech, analysis of bills that carry implications for health and care, and a look at what they mean for the sector.

Social distancing sign crowd
Briefing

2021/22 planning guidance: what you need to know

Headline points and the NHS Confederation's view on guidance on the fourth phase of the NHS COVID-19 response.

A parent wearing prosthetic legs, sitting on the sofa next to his daughter and their dog.
Briefing

Integration and innovation white paper: what you need to know

Analysis of government proposals to reform the NHS in England.