Understanding the impact of services in the community on hospital care

The aim of this study is to identify the cost implications of initiatives in community health services to reduce hospital utilisation and referral to specialist services.

In 2016 we were asked to undertake a scoping review to identify whether there was any evidence on the cost-effectiveness of community bed services versus caring at home. We found only three UK studies looking at this comparison. These varied by quality and population groups, and provide only weak evidence that community based care is less cost-effective than home care from the perspective of the health and social care provider. Evidence on any societal costs, including the cost of informal care was minimal. Further research is needed which draws on current work in NHSE on CHS costings and CHS interventions.

We will work collaboratively with the project leads but our research will focus specifically on identifying the impacts of CHS on specialist primary care, secondary care, social care and costs for patients and carers.

Output

Lau Y.S., Malisauskaite G., Brookes N., Hussein S., Sutton M. Complements or substitutes? Associations between volumes of care provided in the community and hospitals. Eur J Health Econ. 2021 Jun 17.