Effects of NHS reform on socio-economic equity in health – Richard Cookson – Wolfson Research Institute Lecture Friday 2 December 2011

Research Summary: NHS Reform and Socio-Economic Health Equity

Event Type: Academic research lecture and policy analysis

Research Focus: Effects of pro-competition “Blair/Brown” NHS reforms on socio-economic equity in health care during the 2000s

Methodology: Three empirical studies using time series cross section methods to evaluate equity performance at national and local levels

Funding Source: NIHR SDO Programme under DH Health Reform Evaluation Programme

Speaker Credentials: Dr Richard Cookson, Reader at University of York Centre for Health Economics; expertise in health equity measurement, competition policy, and social determinants

Key Application: Developing refined analytical methods to monitor NHS equity performance and identify equity effects of future health system reforms

Policy Relevance: Addresses how market-driven reforms affect healthcare access and outcomes across socio-economic groups in public health systems

The Wolfson Research Institute Presents:

Effects of NHS reform on socio-economic equity in health
Dr Richard Cookson, University of York

Friday 2 December 2011
1pm (coffee available from 12.30pm)
Theatre D004 Ebsworth Building
Durham University, Queen’s Campus, Stockton-on-Tees , TS17 6BH

In his lecture, Dr Cookson will summarise and discuss the findings of three empirical studies investigating the effects on socio-economic equity in health care of the pro-competition “Blair/Brown” reforms on the English NHS in the 2000s. The studies are all part of a recently completed research project funded by the NIHR SDO Programme under the auspices of the DH Health Reform Evaluation Programme. He will also briefly discuss how the time series cross section methods used in the project might be further developed and refined to monitor change in NHS equity performance at both national and local levels, and to identify the equity effects of future NHS reforms. A brief online summary of this research can be found on the Guardian Healthcare Network and full details can be downloaded as research papers from the University of York
Centre for Health Economics.

Richard Cookson is a Reader at the University of York Centre for Health Economics. Richard has research interests in equity in health and health care, the measurement of health and wellbeing, public health, competition, and pay for performance. He is currently serving as a member of the economics sub-group for the WHO European Region’s review of the social determinants of health led by Sir Michael Marmot, went on secondment to the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit in the Treasury in early 2010, and has served on NICE’s Technology Appraisal Committee (2002 -7) and the Public Health Interventions Advisory Committee (2007-9). He helped set up the UK Health Equity Network in 1999, and in 2010 organised a Health Strategy Forum to help senior health executives improve quality and productivity by making better use of management data and research evidence.

Places are limited and will be allocated in order of receipt. To register for this event please follow visit the Wolfson Institute web site.