Information-based management of mental health services: A two-stage model for improving funding mechanism and clinical governance

Abstract

It is suggested that payment by results for mental health services should initially use a tariff based only upon data that are currently collected routinely. Resources should be varied according to the numbers of episodes completed within a reporting period in each of a number of standard national treatment setting types, compiled using definitions derived in national service mapping. For 'community' as opposed to hospital settings, the case-load may be further subdivided to reflect the increased resource need for recently referred patients and those newly discharged from hospital. It is suggested that such a system could be implemented within a much shorter time frame than is currently envisaged for payment by results, thereby reducing the negative impact upon funding. It is proposed that in a second stage of implementation an extended data-set, including data on the four inter-related dimensions of condition, severity, intervention and outcome, should become part of a comprehensive approach to the monitoring of service quality, both by commissioners and as a part of trust clinical governance. This will allow an incremental approach to be adopted, with different data types collected in various treatment settings.