Briefing / What finance data is required to drive value at a population level?

As we move to a more collaborative, integrated approach to designing, planning and delivering health services, the question of how we allocate finite resources in a way to maximise outcomes becomes increasingly important. Echoing the HFMA president’s 2019 theme – ‘value the opportunity’ – delivering value is essential as the NHS transforms into a service fit for the future.

This briefing explores what is meant by value at a population level and considers what NHS finance data is required to understand how resources are currently distributed across different parts of local health systems.

What is evident from our research is that collaboration, rather than competition, generates an opportunity to explore fundamental, outcomes-based changes in the way resources are allocated driving maximum value for our local populations. There is a need for open and honest discussions within systems about how best they can manage population health and develop a shared understanding of population segmentation and allocative value. As one interviewee commented: ‘It poses the question, are we doing better things rather than doing the things we already do better?'