Economics of Health and Social Care

Using best practice to efficiently fund health and social care services of benefit to patients.

Theme Lead: Professor Heather Gage (University of Surrey)

Economics of Health and Social Care Motif
Economics of Health and Social Care Showcase

Our Economics of Health and Social Care theme supports commissioning and decision making within services. It provides evidence that shows the effects and benefits in different research projects, including costs and value for money.

Economics of Health and Social Care is embeddeded in each of our themes by:

  1. Reviewing and analysing the current status of research issues under consideration to inform the selection of possible projects. The team assesses the economic burden for the patient group and sector and the potential to save public money in the light of possible patient/client benefit and wider gains for the workforce or society as a whole.
  2. Providing advice on details of the design of research proposals to ensure that the economic effects and impact for the NHS, public health or social care agencies can be properly captured. 
  3. Undertaking the economic analysis for any project, as needed, within the research team and contribute to the writing up of reports and dissemination activities.

Meet the Team

Image of Professor Heather Gage

Professor Heather Gage

Theme Lead for Economics of Health and Social Care

Image of Phelim Brady MBE

Phelim Brady MBE

Economics of Health and Social Care Theme Public Advisor

Image of Dr Morro Touray

Dr Morro Touray

Post-Doctoral Research Fellow (Economics of Health and Social Care)

Projects

Social Capital and Health

 

Social capital is a concept that encapsulates resources for individuals and society at large, via interconnected networks of relationships and levels of trust in one another. The benefits of social capital on health have been well documented but the specific impact it has on health inclusion groups in the UK has not been comprehensively measured and assessed. Health inclusion groups refer to those that are socially excluded - such as people experiencing homelessness, substance addiction, and vulnerable migrants - and therefore may suffer from low levels of social capital as well as very poor health outcomes.  Social prescribing is a recent initiative that amongst other things, can potentially increase and mobilise social capital. This thesis aims to quantify the effectiveness of social prescribing in generating social capital and its subsequent effect on health inclusion groups.

ReASCED - diagnosis in autism

 

Autism is a lifelong condition, with symptoms usually emerging during the first two years of life and persisting throughout an individual’s life. Parents often notice signs that something may not be quite right, but it might also be a teacher, doctor, or someone else. When this happens, the child and their parent see a specialised diagnosis team. However, diagnosis of autism is not easy and parents often experience frustrating and distressing delays. The Re-ASCed study is a national research project that aims to examine existing models of Autism diagnosis and to investigate which approaches offer the most timely, cost-effective, high quality and child and family friendly solutions.

What constitutes successful commissioning? An exploration of UK government policy and patient outcomes in the field of Haemophilia care

 

This project explores the structures and processes of commissioning arrangements within NHS England specialised services, the decision-making process and how and why commissioners procure the products and services that they do.

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