Four research projects selected to explore original ideas on system efficiency and value for money

Four research projects were selected as part of the Health Foundation’s £800,000 open call for innovative research ideas on system efficiency and value for money in health and social care.

The Efficiency Research Programme aimed to address how new approaches could support long-term transformational change in health and social care in the UK.

Research teams explored some of the most powerful ways that health, or health and social care services could increase value, and provide more for less.

The programme ran for five years and each project received up to £500,000 of funding to support the research.

The programme aimed to:

• generate new knowledge to provide an increased understanding of the likely impact of health care policy and process changes on cost, capacity, value and productivity
• increase our practical understanding of how to better implement, spread and scale-up value-generating programmes within a UK context.

The projects were:

Health care technology diffusion in the NHS and workforce impact – The London School of Economics and Political Science
This research project analysed national data to measure uptake of new surgical procedures and the impact on staffing composition, expenditure and working practices. The research aimed to increase understanding of the effect that new health care technologies have on the NHS workforce, to support workforce planning.

Allocative efficiency of health spending on older people – Institute for Fiscal Studies
This research project aimed to increase understanding of how public money is allocated across health and social care services for older people, the effect of health outcomes and wellbeing, and whether the spending is effective.

Impact of key GP characteristics on unscheduled secondary care use and patient outcomes – Frontier Economics
This research project explored whether GPs who are involved in training, commissioning and other initiatives achieve better outcomes for patients with long-term conditions, as well as cost savings through fewer unplanned hospital admissions.

Network and competition effects in the diffusion of innovation in the NHS – Imperial College London
This research project aimed to increase understanding of the factors that influence the adoption and diffusion of innovative cancer treatments in hospitals.