News:
Friday 27th April 2012:
27/04/12: David Murray joins HEC as an Associate
David is an established respected senior public health professional. He works as an independent Consultant in Public Health, and is a Director with the Public Health Action Support Team (PHAST) – a Social Enterprise Community Interest Company.
He graduated with distinction MSc from the Department of Public Health and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (University of London), is an accredited Public Health Specialist and Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health of the UK Royal Colleges of Physicians.
David has over twenty years of experience of public health practice and health economics, undertaking and managing research, analysis and development projects across a wide range of public health and health care topics. His employers and clients include numerous NHS commissioning organizations, the National Institute for Clinical Excellence (NICE), government departments, international health charities, and the pharmaceutical industry.
Wednesday 25th April 2012:
25/04/12: HEC reviews latest HTA Guidance on EOS 3-D X-ray imaging
A new imaging technique for monitoring scoliosis (curvature of the spine) in children and adolescents was assessed by HTA reviewers along with a cost-effectiveness model. The review found that 2 or 3-D X-Rays give better images, in some cases, whereas the radiation dose they deliver is significantly reduced. However, this more expensive imaging technique was not cost-effective compared to conventional X-rays on grounds of additional clinical benefits although it could reduce harm from radiation. HEC’s Director, Dr Fordham and the panel agreed that to make an investment in such a way that the equipment was cost-effective to use a minimum throughput of about 60-100 patients per day, or in excess of 15,000 scans per year would be required. However, at this level it is currently uncertain how many centres would be able to use the EOS system cost-effectively. One way suggested to overcome the initial high capital investment would be for NHS managers to consider rental agreements.
Tuesday 24th April 2012:
24/04/12: HEC helps the Royal College of GPs evaluate extended training
Currently GPs receive three more years of practical training after qualifying as basic hospital doctors. HEC was asked to look at the cost and benefits of extending this training for a further year and the consequences of that over the next fifteen years. HEC helped the RCGP show that the financial benefits from savings to patient care, better practice and improved quality of treatment could off-set the expensive additional costs of training after about ten years, when most GP would have come through the next scheme. The case was accepted by the Medical Practices Board recently and further negotiations with the Department of Health are now awaited. Dr Clare Gera, President of the RCGP said she was delighted at the outcome of the negotiations and that HEC had done a ‘really excellent job’ in providing a robust economic case on which to base the decision.
24/04/12: HEC wins major research project into drug use in the elderly - the SENATOR study
HEC will be responsible for all economic components of a major five-year pan-European trial on optimizing drug usage among the elderly, funded by a new FP7 EU Grant. HEC will ensure that data on the costs and the quality of life impacts of inadvertent drug-use among older patients will be identified and monitored and analysed across eight countries. The study is based at the University of Cork, Eire and involves a consortium of Medical Schools in Belgium, England, France, Italy, Iceland, Scotland, Spain.
Thursday 15th March 2012:
15/03/12: HEC wins Sports England project
HEC has won a new project to model the economic benefits of participating in sport. Looking at non-elite sports, the concept is to assess the health and financial benefits of improving the uptake of sports by members of the public. The project also involves key experts from the research community nationally. It aims to give local planners and NHS commissioners etc. a tool for estimating the benefits of sport initiatives and ultimately to help Sport England with future investment decisions.
15/03/12: New Associate joins HEC
Associate Prof. Darrin Baines, University of Nottingham
Darrin has recently worked at the North West SHA as its Health Economist and before that the University of Birmingham teaching Health Economics. Darrin has a wealth of experience, both nationally and internationally and we are very pleased to be working with him once again.
Friday 10th February 2012:
10/02/12: HEC completes full costing of screening programmes for National Screening Committee
The project has involved detailed costings of the resource use of all ten non-cancer screening programmes like the newborn infant physical examination and the Diabetic Retinopathy programmes. The exercise looked at costs that fell into national screening infrastructure, tests and consumables and subsequent treatment for conditions detected. Further work on the local impact of these programmes is now underway.
10/02/12: HEC designs a new Cost Tool for Alcohol Services
Health Economics Consulting has designed and built a new tool for managers and practitioners to assess the cost of 'Best Practice' and local practices in the treatment of alcohol dependency cases. The work undertaken in Wakefield has national as well as local implications for improving cost-effective care.
10/02/12: Self-help Cancer Programmes
Macmillan Nursing is working with Health Economics Consulting and its Associates to assess the best and most cost-effective self-help tool for its clients. The costing phase is about to commence and will look to see what impacts there are on both sufferers and carers.
10/02/12: HEC assesses value-for-money of CPD for Strategic Health Authority
HEC has looked at the value-for-money an SHA (an NHS region) gets from its spend on Continuing Professional Development (CPD). The projects assessed the effectiveness of the training events its sponsors and the full 'opportunity cost' of sending staff on them.
10/02/12: HEC works with Royal Colleges
HEC is going to be working with several of the Royal Colleges to produce business cases for their strategies using best-case evidence. The work will enable Colleges to demonstrate the value for money of their training and other activities of their members in the current financial climate.
10/02/12: HEC assesses Care Home Assistive Technologies
Care Home Assistive Technologies (AT) have been assessed in Norfolk by HEC and colleagues from AHP. The introduction of AT has had mixed results but generally improves if good training is given about its use and once these devices are used more regularly. The greatest need for it and hence highest cost savings are in those homes with patients with some form of dementia.
Monday 21st March 2011:
21/03/11: Health Economics welcome Richard Little
Health Economics are pleased to announce the arrival of latest team member, Richard Little.
Richard is a highly experienced Health Economist with special interest in promoting applied health economics through research and teaching. He has a particular focus on supporting decision making, especially in prioritisation and to public health. Richard has extensive experience in the NHS and Department of Health, especially with Public Health and NHS information, which he uses in applied health economics.
Prior to joining the University of East Anglia, Richard worked at the Yorkshire and Humber PHO (YHPHO) from 2009 to 2011 where he supported PCTs in prioritisation using Programme Budgeting and Marginal Analysis (PBMA) and advising other PCTs undertaking their own PBMAs; he also provided training courses in health economics.
Prior to YHPHO, Richard taught and undertook research at Keele University. He has undertaken modelling analysis for the National Screening Committee evaluating screening options for Down's Syndrome and Diabetic Retinopathy; PBMA for cancer services in Anglia and Oxford Region and Programme Budgeting and evidence based benefits for the Welsh Assembly Government, and has been extensively involved in Health Impact Assessment. Richard is a co-organiser of the Applied Health Economists' Group which meets at York University and the London School of Economics.
Thursday 20th January 2011:
20/01/11: Local authority buying power may force up care home charges
Local authorities may be driving up the cost of privately funded care home places and forcing other homes out of the UK market by paying less for assisted places for the elderly, according to research published today by the University of East Anglia.
The public sector uses its importance in the market to buy assisted places, for people eligible for state-funded care, at low prices. To break even or cover costs, care homes must increase the price for private 'self-funders', or be forced out of the market.
Read more...Tuesday 11th January 2011:
11/01/11: HE Consultants help Small BioTech business wins awards!
The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) offered by the Technology Strategy Board aims to use government procurement to drive innovation in the UK. It provides business opportunities for innovative companies whilst solving the needs of government departments. Competitions for new technologies and ideas are run in specific areas and aim to engage a broad range of companies in short-term development contracts.
HE Consultants Garry Barton, Adam Martin and Ric Fordham worked with 11 companies in the South East in summer 2010 to help formulate economic arguments to include in their business planning and to support them in winning a further round of the competition. As part of the arrangement, companies attended a day's seminar at UEA with the HE Consulting team and were also individually visited at their premises to follow up on initial discussions.
We were pleased to learn recently that four of the companies we had worked with closely have been successful in obtaining further funds in the next round worth up to £500,000 – we wish them all much success!
Monday 10th January 2011:
10/01/11: HE Consultants work closely with London Technology Network
London Technology Network promote innovative collaborations and help to stimulate technology-intensive innovation between universities and businesses. They have created a network of over 100 university-based research experts across London, the East and South East in order to provide technology solutions for business needs. HE Consulting's Director Dr Ric Fordham was appointed a LTN Business Fellow in November 2010 and covers all aspects of research in the Faculty of Health at UEA, providing links between health care researchers and businesses members of LTN. For further information contact r.fordham@uea.ac.uk
Thursday 6th January 2011:
06/01/11: Walking for Health cost analysis
HE Consultants (Marc Suhrcke, Tracey Sachs & Ric Fordham) and RAND Europe have been commissioned by Natural England to develop a cost method and resource inventory for the national 'Walking for Health' initiative. The DH sponsored WfH programme helps local authorities, NHS and voluntary agencies organise local walking groups led by walking volunteers and paid staff with the aim of keeping the participants active and fit. This is the first time a full cost analysis of such a programme has been undertaken and will help Natural England establish the cost-effectiveness of this initiative.
For more information please see the Walking for Health webpage
Wednesday 5th January 2011:
05/01/11: Measuring effectiveness of assistive technology in care homes
HE Consulting and colleagues from UEA's School of Allied Health Professions are about to start a study of Care Homes Assistive Technology (CHATS). The study is funded by Norfolk County Council and will involve residents and staff from 20 council run residential care homes around the county. The study will evaluate the effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of AT and how care is delivered and work practices change after the installation of new monitoring equipment. It will run for a year.
Wednesday 5th January 2011:
05/01/11: Evaluating the Suffolk Prostitution Strategy
HE Consulting and colleagues from UEA's School of Allied Health Professions are about to commence an evaluation of the Suffolk Prostitution Strategy to 2011. HE Consulting will be helping to estimate the cost impacts and savings generated by the strategy. After the multiple murders of sex workers in Ipswich in 2006, Suffolk police and the LA have commissioned an independent evaluation from University of East Anglia's team to describe and analyse the structure, process and primary and secondary outcomes of this strategy in its first year.
