Deriving a new weighted capitation model for UK General Practice

BACKGROUND: Capitation payments make up the majority of General Practice income in the UK NHS. Capitation payments are weighted using the Carr-Hill formula to take account of factors affecting workload. However the Carr-Hill formula takes account of only a limited number of variables and payments to General Practices do not closely reflect workload. The effect of this is that general practices which selectively enrol younger patients without chronic diseases receive higher payments than needed and can financially destabilise general practices left to care for older patients and those with chronic diseases: adverse selection. This has become particularly urgent with the growth of consultations through Smartphone Apps enabling some general practices to do exactly this. There is considerable potential to improve the capitation weighting system using information currently held in electronic primary care records.

METHOD: The study will undertake analyses of a large anonymised database of electronic primary care records to determine the individual patient level predictors of primary care workload. This doctoral thesis will, therefore, develop and make use of skills in statistical analysis or econometrics for the handling of large datasets.

Person specification
Applicants should hold or realistically expect to obtain at least an Upper Second Class Honours Degree (or equivalent for international applicants) in:
• economics, econometrics or health economics and have skills in data analysis
or
• a relevant subject that includes substantial analytic skills such as statistics, economics, mathematics or computing science, but have a demonstrable interest in the economics of health care

To apply, please send:
• A Detailed CV, including your nationality and country of birth;
• Names and addresses of two referees;
• A covering letter highlighting your research experience/capabilities;
• Copies of your degree transcripts;
• Evidence of your proficiency in the English language, if applicable.

Applicants will be required to attend an interview. This can be conducted face –to –face, by telephone or skype