The Care Bill is a good start when it comes to reforming long-term care funding. But joining up health and social care budgets is the next vital step Read more
The Social Value Act could have a huge impact on community wellbeing – but only with genuine local involvement and an imaginative and unfettered approach Read more
Good commissioning can transform public services, create savings and develop sustainable and more local provision. So how can organisations make this happen? Read more
Politicians and the press are complicit in providing simplistic solutions to complex problems. The public sector should offer an alternative approach by shutting down PR departments, eschewing spin-friendly press releases and, instead, telling the unvarnished truth Read more
Keynes said that when circumstances change, he would change his view. The IMF has commendably adopted this approach in its assessment of the UK economy – so why doesn’t George Osborne show similar flexibility? Read more
Cutting costs alone won’t cut it in the public sector. The case for shared services is growing ever stronger as political, technological and procurement obstacles are removed Read more
Politicians often propose policies without any proper review of their costs. When any new measure is introduced into Parliament, the Office for Budget Responsibility should audit its future financial burden Read more
Integrating health and social care has long been a goal of governments. But the latest proposals are unlikely to go far enough and more radical measures may be needed Read more
Attempts to share or outsource public services often end in tears. So how can councils avoid negative headlines and ensure that their projects deliver the projected savings and objectives? Read more...
Today’s announcement of the government’s legislative programme fails to address major long-term funding issues. Ministers need to reconsider the ‘triple lock’ on pensions and the ring fencing of the NHS budget Read more
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