Developing a prioritisation framework in an English Primary Care Trust

Wilson, Edward C. F. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8369-1577, Rees, John and Fordham, Richard J. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5520-6255 (2006) Developing a prioritisation framework in an English Primary Care Trust. Cost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation, 4. ISSN 1478-7547

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Abstract

Background: In the English NHS, Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are required to commission health services, to maximise the well-being of the population, subject to the available budget. There are numerous techniques employed to make decisions, some more rational and transparent than others. A weighted benefit score can be used to rank options but this does not take into account value for money from investments. Methods: We developed a weighted benefit score framework for use in an English PCT which ranked options in order of 'cost-value' or 'cost per point of benefit'. Our method differs from existing techniques by explicitly combining cost and a composite weighted benefit score into the cost-value ratio. Results: The technique proved readily workable, and was able to accommodate a wide variety of data and competing criteria. Participants felt able to assign scores to proposed services, and generate a ranked list, which provides a solid starting point for the PCT Board to discuss and make funding decisions. Limitations included potential for criteria to be neither exhaustive nor mutually exclusive and the lack of an interval property in the benefit score limiting the usefulness of a cost-value ratio. Conclusion: A technical approach to decision making is insufficient for making prioritisation decisions, however our technique provides a very valuable, structured and informed starting point for PCT decision making.

Item Type: Article
Faculty \ School: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Norwich Medical School
UEA Research Groups: Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Public Health and Health Services Research
Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences > Research Groups > Health Economics
Depositing User: EPrints Services
Date Deposited: 25 Nov 2010 11:11
Last Modified: 24 Oct 2022 02:06
URI: https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/14022
DOI: 10.1186/1478-7547-4-3

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