Psychiatric Bulletin (2009) 33: 141-144. doi: 10.1192/pb.bp.108.020396
© 2009 The Royal College of Psychiatrists
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Submit an eLetter
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me when eLetters are posted
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via CrossRef
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Right arrow Citing Articles via Scopus
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Ball, H.
Right arrow Articles by Fordham, R.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Ball, H.
Right arrow Articles by Fordham, R.

Road testing programme budgeting and marginal analysis: Norfolk Mental Health pilot project

Hadrian Ball, Medical Director

Norfolk and Waveney Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust, Admin Block, Hellesdon Hospital, Drayton High Road, Hellesdon, Norwich NR6 5BE, email: hadrian.ball{at}nwmhp.nhs.uk

Linda Kemp, Research Associate and Ric Fordham, Director

Health Economics Support Programme, School of Medicine, Health Policy and Practice, University of East Anglia

Declaration of interest

None.

AIMS AND METHOD

Programme budgeting and marginal analysis (PBMA) is a recognised tool for commissioning healthcare. The objectives of this project were to test the acceptability, data availability and practical value of PBMA within the sphere of mental health. The PBMA methodology was applied to the consideration of Norfolk Primary Care Trust's National Health Service expenditure on mental health for the fiscal year 2006/7.

RESULTS

The project successfully attracted the interest of, and contribution from, important stakeholders with the exception of general practitioners. The process led to the identification of areas for disinvestment, releasing funds to be made available for the development of new services, or enhancement of existing services.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

Programme budgeting and marginal analysis is a useful structured tool for the commissioning of mental health services. It is essential, however, that psychiatrists fully engage with the process in order to have an influence over the future direction of mental health services.