By Nick Jones, Global Director of PwC’s Public Sector Research Centre The Queen’s Speech, the quaint tradition by which the government of the day sets out its annual legislative programme amid much pomp and no little ceremony, contained few surprises. Nevertheless, it was still of real interest in showing the...
Commenting on the Budget's implications for public policy and wider growth, Nick Jones, Director, PwC government and Public Sector commented: A budget for growth? "The test for this Budget was always going to be whether it will deliver the growth the country needs. To start with the positives, there were...
By Nick Jones, Global Director of PwC’s Public Sector Research Centre Growth, and how to deliver it, is dominating attention in the run-up to this year’s Budget. And with good reason as the economy struggles to take off and commentators look for the tipping point where business and consumer confidence...
By Kalee Talvitie-Brown and Janet Dawson With 1 April looming, clinical commissioning groups will be focused on their role in improving and transforming services and putting clinical decision making firmly at the heart of the new NHS landscape. CCGs first 100 days will set the tone for their performance over...
By Nick M Jones The combination of increasing demand and a tightening financial envelope means that business as usual is no longer an option for the NHS. Our recent report with the Nuffield Trust – The anatomy of health spending – reviews NHS spending and productivity over the period 2003/04...
The NHS faces unprecedented financial challenges, as funding is held broadly constant but demand for services continues to rise. The Anatomy of Health Spending 2011/12, a report from the Nuffield Trust, which we have supported, reviews how the NHS has responded to the financial and productivity challenges that it faces....
What might the future hold for the NHS in 2023? On 26 February, we brought together a range of stakeholders from across the health sector, and beyond, to think about this question, exploring the possibilities for the NHS over the next decade. The potential visions for the future that we...
Three out of five people believe immunisation should be compulsory, and that NHS treatment should stop if patients don’t follow advice to help their condition, such as losing weight. As the NHS faces increasing financial pressures and structural reform, PwC commissioned research into public attitudes to how healthcare provision could...
The PwC Annual Global CEO Survey starkly highlights that business in every region of the world has now faced several years of disruption marked by sustained uncertainty that has required them to become ever more resilient in order to succeed. Uncertainty over economic growth continues to be the main concern...
Health service providers need to act now rather than wait for the Government to digest the findings of the Francis Inquiry say specialists from PwC’s healthcare practice. Robert Francis QC’s report, based on the findings of an independent public inquiry into the Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust between 2006 and...
Welcome to the first edition of the PwC Midlands Region Social Housing newsletter 'Housing Matters'. In this edition, we explore some of the key themes that we have been talking to our clients about, as well as some of the changing requirements that you need to be considering over the...
By Michael Kitts, Partner, PwC and Ray Mills, Infrastructure and Government Lead Partner “You never want a serious crisis to go to waste.” These wise words from Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel may prove useful for local authorities as they slowly digest last month’s local government financial settlement. It’s been clear...
By Nick Forrest, Mark Ambler and Tom Robinson In the current weak economic environment, understanding the broader economic impact of key decisions is vital for businesses, governments and regulators. Policy-makers are looking to take decisions which will boost economic growth and have a positive economic impact. So when they are...
As we wait for the second Francis report into care failings in Mid Staffordshire, the question has to be asked, given we already know much of what is needed to drive improvements, why are so many healthcare providers waiting? Setting a responsive regulatory environment that ensures quality of care for...
Commenting on the Government’s expected state pension reforms, Steve Blackmore, pensions director at PwC in the Midlands, said: “Greater simplicity and certainty on the state pension has to be good news for savers and pensioners. This will give people comfort about the base level of state pension they will receive,...
A major survey of senior fundraising and finance professionals in the charity sector has begun today, the sixth in a series designed to track the recession’s impact on the charity sector. Survey results will be revealed at a pre-Budget breakfast debate on 15 March 2013 with finance and fundraising sector...
By Andy Ford, Local Government Partner There is a definite feeling of ‘back to the future’ about the release of the local authority financial settlement so close to Christmas. The confidence of a few years back – when we thought we had entered an era of commitment to longer term...
The first two stages of auto-enrolment are live and we are experiencing strong appetite amongst clients to hear about the incidence of opt out. Many of the first stagers are using the optional postponement period so significant volume data won't be coming through until January 2013 onwards. However, those that...
The news that local authorities will bear the lion's share of the further 2% reduction in departmental budgets in 2014/15 will not come as a surprise to the sector, but that won't make it any more palatable. Our surveys of how local councils have responded to reductions in Government support...
Businesses in the West Midlands need to adopt a medium to long-term vision for growth in order to maintain and build momentum in the economy, according to PwC. The firm is advising businesses to look at least 10-25 years ahead and consider ways in which to capitalise on planned investment...
