Efficiency, cost and quality of mental health care provision University of York

Mental illness has a significant impact on individuals, society and the economy. However, there is limited understanding of how mental health care providers can use their limited resources to achieve the best outcomes for patients and taxpayers.

This Efficiency Research project between the Universities of York, Sheffield and Birmingham looked at the efficiency, cost and quality of mental health care provision, and how changes can be made to deliver better care within available budgets.

Key findings

Using a number of research methods – including analysing large, linked national datasets, surveys, focus groups and interviews – the team assessed which aspects of quality of care are valued by service users, clinicians and the general public. These included improvements in outcomes, person-centred care and a coordinated approach.

Quality adjusted life year (QALY) weightings were then developed for each quality indicator to assess efficiency. The team identified high-quality, low-cost providers and examined which organisational factors were associated with performance. They found that better performing providers have an open, listening culture with high staff engagement, higher investment in technology, and good relationships with local partner organisations.

The team also examined how mental health care providers performed during the COVID-19 pandemic and found large changes in activity levels as they responded to changes in demand and supply. They rapidly implemented new models of care, developing digital solutions at speed to ensure ongoing delivery of care.

A number of journal articles have been published on the findings of the project, and the team has presented the work at national and international conferences, workshops and seminars. The analysis informs policy and research, and has fed into updates to the NHS funding formula for mental health services from NHS England.

Contact information

For further information about the project, please email Professor Rowena Jacobs, Professor of Health Economics, University of York.