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REAL Centre publications and analysis
Browse the latest publications and in-depth analysis from the REAL Centre.

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Publications

Analysis

Social care funding

About 4 mins

Analysis

This analysis from the REAL Centre explores social care funding in England, looking at spending since 2010, how this compares to historical levels...

Analysis

Health care funding

About 4 mins

Analysis

We share the latest health care funding figures for England, including how much has been committed and how it compares to historical levels.

Report

Health inequalities in 2040

April 2024

Report

This report explores how patterns of diagnosed ill health vary by socioeconomic deprivation in England and projects these patterns to 2040.

Report

Health in 2040: projected patterns of illness in England

July 2023

Report

How might patterns of ill health change because of our growing and ageing population? Our insights report projects future levels of illness in...

Analysis

Adult social care funding pressures

About 6 mins

Analysis

Our estimates of the cost of meeting the growing demand for adult social care in England and making some targeted improvements.

Analysis

How feasible are the NHS Long Term Workforce Plan commitments on training?

About 7 mins

Analysis

This analysis from the REAL Centre looks at how these commitments might affect both the health care education system and wider workforce planning in...

Feature

How reliant is the NHS in England on international nurse recruitment?

About 6 mins

Feature

Nursing shortages across the NHS are a huge risk to the post-pandemic recovery. So does international recruitment provide the answer?

Analysis

What is the outlook for health funding?

About 8 mins

Analysis

This analysis looks at the outlook for health funding and explores the potential impact of pay and other cost pressures on NHS spending power.

Report

Health is wealth?

November 2022

Report

In his REAL Challenge lecture, Andrew Haldane, Chief Executive of the RSA, argues health has rarely mattered more to the UK's growth and resilience.

Report

NHS workforce projections 2022

July 2022

Report

The REAL Centre sets out its projections of future NHS workforce supply and demand in England, up to 2030/31.

Report

Projections: General practice workforce in England

June 2022

Report

We summarise key findings of our analysis on workforce supply and demand in general practice in England up to 2030/31, focusing on patient care staff...

Report

Our ageing population

December 2021

Report

This report explores the complex relationship between age, health and social care need, and how this is changing. Understanding this dynamic is...

Report

Does the cap fit?

February 2022

Report

A joint IFS and Health Foundation briefing that analyses the government’s proposed amendment to the English social care charging system.

Report

Nurses’ pay over the long term: what next?

November 2021

Report

We examine long-term trends in UK nurses' pay and ask whether the system for deciding nurses’ pay remains fit for purpose.

Report

A radical new vision for social care

November 2021

Report

Acclaimed author and social innovator Hilary Cottam asks what might it take to turn our current thinking about care on its head, reimagining care not...

Report

Health and social care funding projections 2021

October 2021

Report

The REAL Centre sets out projections of the funding the NHS and social care system in England may need, along with workforce requirements, over the...

Briefing

The future of the NHS hospital payment system in England

July 2021

About 1 min

Briefing

The whole health service needs to recover well from COVID-19 and transform to meet the challenges of the post-pandemic environment. This briefing,...

Report

The most expensive breakfast in history

June 2021

Report

20 years on from the Wanless report, we look back on its origins, methodology, and impact, and highlight the learnings that can be applied to the...

Report

Building the NHS nursing workforce in England

December 2020

Report

The current shortfall of nurses represents a major long-term and growing problem for the NHS. This report examines recent trends and how these...

Report

The bigger picture

October 2020

Report

In the REAL Centre's first report, we look back at the care and treatment provided by the NHS in England over the past two decades – and identify six...

Analysis

What has happened to non-COVID mortality during the pandemic?

About 10 mins

Analysis

Mortality across a host of non-COVID causes has changed, sometimes dramatically, during the past year and a half. This analysis explores what could...

Analysis

Waiting for care

About 11 mins

Analysis

How has the suspension of routine NHS care affected people’s health and wellbeing? This analysis explores the implications using two case studies –...

Analysis

At what level should social care costs be capped?

About 5 mins

Analysis

In this analysis we explore three different social care cap levels, and what they would mean for people with different levels of wealth.

Analysis

One year on: Three myths about COVID-19 that the data proved wrong

About 4 mins

Analysis

Three charts measuring 'years of life lost' that disprove three ‘myths’ that were prevalent at the start of the pandemic.

Analysis

What next for the UK’s COVID-19 vaccination programme?

About 16 mins

Analysis

The UK’s COVID-19 vaccination programme has made an impressive start, with around 30% of the population given their first dose by the end of...

Analysis

The COVID-19 vaccine: who gets it first?

About 8 mins

Analysis

The COVID-19 vaccination campaign hopefully marks the beginning of the end of the pandemic. But given vaccines will be in short supply for months,...

External link

Spending Review 2020: Managing uncertainty

External link

Our latest REAL Centre analysis explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health care spending, and what this means for the NHS long term plan.

Analysis

Use of primary care during the COVID-19 pandemic

About 8 mins

Analysis

There have been dramatic shifts in primary care activities and outcomes in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. This analysis uses patient-level data...

Thought papers

Report

The unsustainable is not sustained

December 2023

Report

In her REAL Challenge lecture, Diane Coyle, Bennett Professor of Public Policy at the University of Cambridge, argues that productivity is...

Report

Health is wealth?

November 2022

Report

In his REAL Challenge lecture, Andrew Haldane, Chief Executive of the RSA, argues health has rarely mattered more to the UK's growth and resilience.

Report

A radical new vision for social care

November 2021

Report

Acclaimed author and social innovator Hilary Cottam asks what might it take to turn our current thinking about care on its head, reimagining care not...

Working papers

Working paper

Health care funding projections

January 2025

Working paper

This working paper describes the methods and assumptions underpinning our long-term demand and funding projections.

Working paper

Nurse supply model: overview

December 2021

Working paper

This working paper provides an overview of the context for nurse supply in England and the various components that make up the nurse supply model.

Working paper

Nurse supply model: a review of economic factors affecting nurse supply

December 2021

Working paper

This working paper summarises research on economic factors that affect the decision to become a nurse and subsequent participation in the nurse...

Working paper

Nurse supply model: exploring the impact of COVID-19

March 2021

Working paper

This working paper explores the potential impact of the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic on the future supply of nurses in England.

Working paper

Nurse supply model: progress so far

December 2020

Working paper

The Health Foundation's REAL Centre commissioned DAS to produce a model that can be used to develop supply projections of the nursing workforce with...

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REAL Centre publications and analysis Browse the latest publications and in-depth analysis from the REAL Centre.

Publications

Analysis

Thought papers

Working papers

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REAL Centre publications and analysis
Browse the latest publications and in-depth analysis from the REAL Centre.