The UK's shift towards community-based healthcare could be failing to reach its full potential due to a critical gap in research priorities, according to a new report that warns of serious consequences for patients and the NHS.
The King's Fund, the respected independent health charity, has called for an urgent overhaul of how health and social care research is funded and conducted across Britain. Their report reveals that current research priorities remain stubbornly focused on hospital-based studies, despite the government's commitment to delivering more care 'closer to home' in community settings.
The 'care closer to home' strategy represents one of the most significant shifts in NHS thinking in decades, aiming to move healthcare away from traditional hospital settings towards GP practices, community centres, and patients' own homes. This approach promises to improve outcomes for patients, make care more accessible, and ease pressure on overstretched A&E departments and hospital wards.
However, The King's Fund warns that without proper research to guide this transformation, the initiative risks becoming a costly experiment with patients' health. The charity found that researchers and funding bodies have been slow to pivot towards studying what actually works in community settings, leaving policymakers to make crucial decisions without solid evidence.
This research gap could prove expensive for both the NHS and patients. Without robust studies on community interventions and integrated care models, health leaders may struggle to allocate resources effectively or design services that truly meet local needs. The result could be wasted funding and missed opportunities to improve care for millions of people.
The King's Fund recommends a more joined-up approach to research, bringing together universities, NHS trusts, social care providers, and local councils. They also call for a fundamental review of research funding to ensure community healthcare studies receive adequate support.
For patients, getting this right could mean shorter waits for treatment, more convenient access to care, and better management of long-term conditions like diabetes and heart disease within their own communities. This would particularly benefit older people and those with chronic illnesses, who often struggle with frequent hospital visits.
The stakes are high – a successful shift to evidence-based community care could transform the NHS into a more preventative, responsive service that keeps people healthier for longer whilst reducing the burden on hospitals.