Health and Care Policy and Practice Evaluation

Researching how to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of health and social care services, covering the spectrum from individual interventions to system-level reforms

Research, commentary, and events

Project
The socioeconomic impact of poor indoor climate on health and life satisfaction
22 Mar 2022

Poor indoor climate can result in a higher risk of health and wellbeing disorders, especially in children, the elderly and those with existing health conditions. Exposure of Europeans to damp, mould, and insufficient daylight in residential buildings could cost €53 billion over the next 30 years.
Project
The impact of vertical integration of health services
12 Jan 2022

In several locations across England and Wales, NHS organisations responsible for managing acute hospitals have also taken over the running of primary care medical practices. Vertical integration is a valuable option to consider when GP practices look likely to fail due to recruitment and financial difficulties, but it is not an option that should be imposed from the top down.
Project
Evaluating collaborations between primary care general practices in the UK
05 Jan 2022

Primary care networks can help GPs run a wider range of services for their patients and make changes that are needed in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. It will be important to have additional clarification and support around the role of primary care networks in the wider NHS in England.
Project
Evaluating the Children and Young People's Mental Health Trailblazer programme
12 Jul 2021

An early evaluation of the Children and Young People’s Mental Health Trailblazer programme examines the development, implementation and early progress of the 25 mental health support teams created as the first step of the programme.
Project
Insights into the health and wellbeing of Canadian workers
04 Jun 2021

RAND Europe researchers analysed data from 70 Canadian organisations and 7,251 employees that participated in Wellness Report surveys on employee lifestyle, mental health and other areas of concern. The reports assess the associated impact these areas have on health and productivity.
Multimedia
U.K. Public Preferences for Funding NHS and Social Care
29 Apr 2021

Jon Sussex, chief economist at RAND Europe, is joined by senior analyst Hui Lu in a discussion about their study on how the U.K. public thinks funding for the National Health Service (NHS) and social care should be raised.
Project
Can workplace financial interventions support the mental health of young adults?
08 Mar 2021

Participation in workplace financial wellbeing interventions is associated with better mental health, particularly amongst certain subgroups of workers, according to survey data from healthiest workplace competitions.
Project
Evaluation design for multiple long-term health conditions programme
29 Jan 2021

Complex evaluations at multiple levels are gathering evidence for Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity on societal determinants of health such as housing, debt, racism and labour markets. The findings will inform policy to help those most at risk of developing long-term conditions.
Project
Examining the use of Paediatric Early Warning Systems in the UK
25 Jan 2021

A diverse range of paediatric early warning (PEW) systems are commonly used across the UK, particularly in acute settings. A review of their use uncovered a growing interest amongst some healthcare decisionmakers in the potential of using a standardised system.
Commentary
How Hospitals Could Step in to Help Manage GP Practices
01 Dec 2020

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.
Project
Independent evaluation of the Flow Coaching Academy programme
25 Nov 2020

To help improve patient flow through the healthcare system, researchers evaluated a novel programme that applies team coaching skills and improvement science at the care pathway level.
Project
Understanding the performance of the oncology healthcare system
27 Aug 2020

Researchers identified a number of key indicators that can be used to analyse elements of the oncology health system from different perspectives, and then used these indicators to create an overarching scorecard for oncology ecosystem performance.
Project
Evaluating the development of the Q initiative from 2016-2020
13 Jul 2020

The Q initiative has established itself as an important resource for quality improvement in health and care, supporting members with skills, new relationships and self-confidence. However, to deliver change at scale there is a need to build on these achievements.
Project
Improving early cancer diagnosis interventions
02 Mar 2020

Explorations of how commissioners of healthcare services and Cancer Alliances in England and Northern Ireland make decisions at a local level are helping to inform Cancer Research UK’s work to support early cancer diagnosis locally, thereby improving cancer outcomes.
Project
Understanding the UK's pregnancy research needs and priorities
14 Jan 2020

A review of the research needs and expenditure on pregnancy in the UK found that £51 million is invested in pregnancy research each year. By contrast, the NHS spends £5.8 billion on pregnancy-related care each year and in 2018/19 litigation claims totalled £2.5 billion.