Jon Sussex

Chief Economist

Cambridge Office

Education

M.A. in economics, University of Cambridge; M.Sc. in health economics, University of York

One Page Bio

Overview

Jon Sussex (he/him) is chief economist at RAND Europe and co-director of the Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research, a collaboration between RAND Europe and the University of Cambridge. He has over 30 years of experience in research and consultancy in the fields of healthcare and life sciences sector policy and economics in the UK and internationally.

He has published on a wide range of topics in these fields, including on options for funding health and social care, evaluation of innovations in health and social care, prioritisation, the role of the private sector in tax-funded healthcare, quantifying spillovers and time lags in medical research, and the regulation of medicine prices. He leads the RAND Europe contributions to the NIHR funded Birmingham, RAND and Cambridge Evaluation (BRACE) centre. Before joining RAND Europe, Sussex was deputy director of the Office of Health Economics (London), a management consultant at Deloitte and Touche, and health economic adviser at HM Treasury.

Research Focus

Concurrent Non-RAND Positions

Co-Director, Cambridge Centre for Health Services Research (CCHSR); Honorary Senior Visiting Fellow, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, University of Cambridge

Commentary

Health Care Payment Approaches

What Are the Practical Considerations for Outcome-Based Payment in the NHS?
Uncertainty can surround the effectiveness or cost-effectiveness of a new medicine, making it difficult to agree on a medicine's price. One solution to avoid unduly delaying or restricting patients' access is to link the medicine's price to the outcomes it produces in a patient. Despite some barriers, outcome-based payment could offer a “win” for patients, the NHS, and industry.
Dec 2, 2021
Office of Health Economics
Health Care Organization and Administration

Can Primary Care Networks and Models of Vertical Integration Coexist in the NHS?
Vertical integration with a hospital helps primary care practices that might otherwise have closed to remain in operation. It thereby creates the opportunity for the continued development and improvement of local primary care for patients.
Dec 7, 2020
The RAND Blog
Health Care Organization and Administration

How Hospitals Could Step in to Help Manage GP Practices
The supply of doctors in primary care, known as 'GPs' in the UK, is falling behind a growing demand for their services, as GPs leave general practice in large numbers. One way to help struggling GP practices could be vertical integration—combining health care organizations operating at different stages along the patient pathway.
Dec 1, 2020
Health Service Journal
Social Services and Welfare

Learning from Existing Novel Approaches to Solving the Adult Social Care Crisis Is Better Than Reinventing the Wheel
The growing gap in the UK between the need for social care for older people and the provision of support arises not only from a crisis of funding, but also from a failure to learn from what is already being done well. Closing the gap might be achieved by learning from creative approaches already being tried and then implementing them.
Oct 14, 2020
The RAND Blog
Health Economics

Health Funding—Finally Something We Can Agree On
At a time when it has become common to think of the UK as a divided society, there are important questions of policy on which a great many people agree. How to fund the ever-growing needs of the NHS and social care is one such area of agreement.
Feb 21, 2019
The Health Foundation
Health Care Financing

Tax Funding of Health and Social Care Internationally: Does Hypothecation Help?
The case for raising much more money to pay for health care and social care in the United Kingdom over the next few years is strong. Earmarking taxes for public funding of health care or social care is worth consideration.
Jul 10, 2018
The Health Foundation
Health Economics

New Options for Funding the NHS and Social Care in the UK: What Can We Learn from International Experiences?
International experiences show the complexity of policy choices around funding health and social care. What models are most feasible and appropriate to fund the UK's health and social care systems, both among policymakers and the public?
Oct 5, 2017
The Health Foundation
Health Economics

Public Funding of Medical Research Pays for Itself
Public and charity spending on medical research in the UK stimulates the private sector to spend more on R&D, not less. Each pound of public funding leads to an additional 99 pence investment from the private sector.
Apr 27, 2016
The RAND Blog
Economic Development

Research Funding and Economic Growth
Publicly funded R&D investment is a coherent policy to support long term economic growth. Our only note of caution is about how far and how fast that growth can be delivered because the evidence we have is out of date and skewed towards the experience of just one country, write Jonathan Grant and Jon Sussex.
Nov 29, 2011
Research Fortnight

Publications

Report
Impacts of increasing requirements for research and development (R&D) cost transparency: Literature review
A literature review shows that increasing the transparency of the research and development costs of new medicines is much discussed. But there is no evidence of the impact this would have on medicines' prices or the rate of innovation.
Mar 31, 2023
Journal Article
Digital Facilitation to Support Patient Access to Web-Based Primary Care Services: Scoping Literature Review
This study aimed to identify, characterize, and differentiate between different approaches to digital facilitation in primary care, establish what is known about the effectiveness of different approaches, and understand the enablers of digital facilitation.
Jul 19, 2022
Report
The burden of respiratory syncytial virus: Understanding impacts on the NHS, society and economy
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) is a significant burden on the healthcare system and on children and their parents and caregivers. We estimate RSV in children under 5 in the UK costs £80 million in healthcare costs and productivity losses each year.
May 31, 2022
Journal Article
Vertical Integration of Primary Care Practices with Acute Hospitals in England and Wales: Why, How and So What? Findings from a Qualitative, Rapid Evaluation
Qualitative evaluation at two locations in England and one in Wales of where acute hospitals have taken on the running of primary care medical practices.
Jan 12, 2022
Journal Article
Vertical Integration of GP Practices with Acute Hospitals in England and Wales: Rapid Evaluation
The objectives of this report are to understand the rationale for and early impact of vertical integration in the National Health Service in England and Wales, and to develop a theory of change for vertical integration.
2022
Journal Article
Making Outcome-Based Payment a Reality in the NHS: Phase 2: Practical Considerations
This study examines implementing an outcome-based payment model in the NHS, the quality and completeness of data on patient outcomes, implications for collecting such data, and establishing steps for the implementation of a pilot OBP scheme.
Dec 1, 2021
Journal Article
Supporting Prioritisation of Mental Health Funding Related to Urgent and Emergency Care in the East of England: A Guide for Integrated Care Systems and Sustainability and Transformation Partnerships
This guide has been prepared to help ICS/STPs with determining spending priorities within mental health urgent and emergency care.
Apr 30, 2021
Research Brief
Findings from the national evaluation of Liaison and Diversion services in England
An outcome evaluation of the National Model for Liaison and Diversion scheme in England, which identifies and supports people in the criminal justice system with health issues and vulnerabilities, using a novel, large-scale linked data set.
Apr 12, 2021
Report
Outcome Evaluation of the National Model for Liaison and Diversion
An outcome evaluation of the National Model for Liaison and Diversion scheme in England, which identifies and supports people in the criminal justice system with health issues and vulnerabilities, using a novel, large-scale linked data set.
Apr 12, 2021
Journal Article
Rapid Prioritisation of Topics for Rapid Evaluation: The Case of Innovations in Adult Social Care and Social Work
This paper aims to describe and discuss a process of rapidly identifying and prioritising a shortlist of innovations for rapid evaluation applied in the field of adult social care and social work.
Mar 18, 2021
Journal Article
Measuring Public Preferences Between Health and Social Care Funding Options
Additional funding will be needed to meet the growing demand for health and social care in the UK. What is the most acceptable way to raise it? Options range from taxation to mandatory insurance, voluntary insurance and user charges. We sought to analyse the preferences of the UK general public.
Mar 1, 2021
Journal Article
Economic Evaluation of Patient Direct Access to NHS Physiotherapy Services
Our aim was to undertake an economic evaluation of patient direct access to physiotherapy in the UK NHS by comparing the number of patients treated, waiting time, cost and health gain from a direct access pathway versus traditional GP-referral to NHS physiotherapy.
2021
Report
Transforming social care provision: first steps towards sustained innovation
The main focus of this Perspective is on ideas to stimulate and sustain innovation in social care; and ideas for research to bring closer a system of sustainable social care innovation.
Aug 12, 2020
Journal Article
Outcome-based Payment Schemes: What Outcomes Do Patients with Cancer Value?
A study exploring the feasibility of introducing OBP for new cancer medicines in the NHS, focusing on the kinds of outcomes that patients and their carers consider most important to refer to in this context.
Jul 22, 2020
Journal Article
From COVID-19 Research to Vaccine Application: Why Might It Take 17 Months Not 17 Years and What Are the Wider Lessons?
Experts consider how monitoring the development of a COVID-19 vaccine could help to identify which of the approaches speeding development and deployment could be usefully applied more widely in the future.
Jun 9, 2020
Report
Decision-making for investment in early diagnosis interventions for cancer: An interview-based study for Cancer Research UK
RAND Europe sought to better understand how commissioners of healthcare services and Cancer Alliances make decisions about early diagnosis interventions at a local level, with a particular focus on England and Northern Ireland.
Mar 2, 2020
Report
Exploring the societal burden of multiple sclerosis: A study into the non-clinical impact of the disease, including changes with progression
We looked at the non-clinical impacts of multiple sclerosis (MS) on the individual with MS, their carers and wider society, focusing on disease progression. We used a rapid evidence assessment and key informant interviews.
Nov 18, 2019
Research Brief
Options for funding the NHS and social care in the UK: How the UK general public would prefer extra funds to be raised
What is the publicly preferred way to raise additional funds needed to meet growing demand for health and social care. Options are taxation, insurance, or user charges. We analyse the preferences of the UK general public using a choice experiment.
Oct 7, 2019
Journal Article
Study for the Evaluation of the EMA Fee System: Summary Report
Researchers examined the European Medicines Agency fee system and its relationship to the underlying costs associated with its services, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the system, and whether fees are founded on a sound economic basis.
Oct 4, 2019
Journal Article
Study for the Evaluation of the EMA Fee System: Final Report
Researchers examined the European Medicines Agency fee system and its relationship to the underlying costs associated with its services, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the system, and whether fees are founded on a sound economic basis.
Oct 4, 2019
Journal Article
Study for the Evaluation of the EMA Fee System: Methodology Note
Researchers examined the European Medicines Agency fee system and its relationship to the underlying costs associated with its services, assessing the strengths and weaknesses of the system, and whether fees are founded on a sound economic basis.
Oct 4, 2019
Journal Article
Making Outcome-Based Payment a Reality in the NHS
A study exploring the feasibility of introducing OBP for new cancer medicines in the NHS, focusing on the kinds of outcomes that patients and their carers consider most important to refer to in this context.
Feb 21, 2019
Journal Article
Making Outcome-Based Payment a Reality in the NHS: Executive Summary
A study exploring the feasibility of introducing OBP for new cancer medicines in the NHS, focusing on the kinds of outcomes that patients and their carers consider most important to refer to in this context.
Feb 21, 2019
Journal Article
Public Acceptability of Health and Social Care Funding Options: Funding Options for the NHS and Social Care in the UK
An assessment of how popular different funding approaches for the NHS and social care are among the general public, as part of a wider study on feasible options for the future funding of health and social care in the UK.
Feb 20, 2019
Journal Article
Innovations in Adult Social Care and Social Work Report
Researchers identified and prioritised a shortlist of top priority innovations to evaluate in adult social care and social work.
2019
Report
Evaluating the impact of the Eastern Academic Health Science Network Transformation Support Unit
Initial evaluation of the impact of the Transformation Support Unit of Eastern Academic Health Science Network. Finds signs that the Unit is improving implementation of innovations in the National Health Service in eastern England.
Aug 3, 2018
Journal Article
Identifying Options for Funding the NHS and Social Care in the UK: International Evidence
As part of a larger project identifying feasible options for the future funding of health & social care in the UK, this paper explores how 16 high-income countries have implemented changes to their funding systems to better meet the challenges ahead.
Jul 10, 2018
Report
The Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare programme: An evaluation of programme activities, outcomes and impacts
This study explores the contribution of the Small Business Research Initiative (SBRI) Healthcare programme to innovation in the NHS (National Health Service). It was commissioned by the UK Department of Health Policy Research Programme.
Oct 30, 2017
Report
Transforming Urgent and Emergency Care and the Vanguard Initiative: Learning from Evaluation of the Southern Cluster
Three Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) vanguards, aiming to improve UEC services, have progressed, driven by funding, status, leadership and support for joint working. Public engagement, workforce and data interoperability challenges need addressing.
Oct 16, 2017
Journal Article
'Macro' Evaluation of the NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre
The Office of Health Economics and RAND Europe were commissioned by the Oxford BRC to undertake a programme of top-down evaluations of aspects of the impact of the BRC. This programme of research has looked at the health, economic and scientific impact of Oxford BRC's research activity.
May 24, 2017
Journal Article
Economies of Scale and Scope in Publicly Funded Biomedical and Health Research: Evidence from the Literature
Publicly funded biomedical and health research is expected to achieve the best return possible for taxpayers and for society generally. It is therefore important to know whether such research is more productive if concentrated into a small number of 'research groups' or dispersed across many.
Mar 16, 2017
Journal Article
Does a Biomedical Research Centre Affect Patient Care in Local Hospitals
Biomedical research can have impacts on patient care at research-active hospitals. We qualitatively evaluated the impact of the Oxford Biomedical Research Centre (Oxford BRC), a university-hospital partnership, on the effectiveness and efficiency of healthcare in local hospitals.
Feb 10, 2017
Journal Article
Evaluation of the Action Plan Against the Rising Threats from Antimicrobial Resistance
This report presents an evaluation of the European Commission's 'Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on the Action Plan against the Rising Threats from Antimicrobial Resistance.'
Nov 4, 2016
Research Brief
Europe's plan to tackle antimicrobial resistance: The success stories and challenges
This brief presents a brief summary of findings from an evaluation of the European Commission's "Evaluation of the EC Action Plan against the rising threats from antimicrobial resistance."
Nov 3, 2016
Journal Article
Evaluation of the EC Action Plan Against the Rising Threats from Antimicrobial Resistance: Final Report
This report presents an evaluation of the European Commission's 'Communication to the European Parliament and the Council on the Action Plan against the Rising Threats from Antimicrobial Resistance.'
Nov 3, 2016
Journal Article
Evaluation of the EC Action Plan Against the Rising Threats from Antimicrobial Resistance: Final Report - Appendices
This set of appendices supplements the final report for the 'Evaluation of the EC Action Plan against the rising threats from antimicrobial resistance'.
Nov 3, 2016
Journal Article
Four Case Studies to Explore the Added Value of Oxford AHSN
This report provides evidence that the Oxford Academic Health Science Network (Oxford AHSN) is capable of promoting high quality NHS care and delivering projects which improve patient outcomes, at a cost that appears to represent good value for money.
Sep 15, 2016
Journal Article
Quantifying the Economic Impact of Government and Charity Funding of Medical Research on Private Research and Development Funding in the United Kingdom
This study estimates the magnitude of the effect of government and charity biomedical and health research expenditure in the United Kingdom (UK), separately and in total, on subsequent private pharmaceutical sector R&D expenditure in the UK.
Apr 11, 2016
Journal Article
How Long Does Biomedical Research Take? Studying the Time Taken Between Biomedical and Health Research and Its Translation Into Products, Policy, and Practice
The time taken, or 'time lags', between biomedical/health research and its translation into health improvements is receiving growing attention. Reducing time lags should increase rates of return to such research.
Jun 24, 2015
Journal Article
Medical Research: What's It Worth? Estimating the Economic Benefits from Medical Research in the UK
This report compares the economic benefits accruing to the UK from UK publicly and charitably funded medical research with the cost of that research.
2009