DISTRIBUTION OF NHS FUNDS BETWEEN FUNDHOLDING AND NON-FUNDHOLDING PRACTICES

Objectives-To estimate the amount spent on specific hospital care by h ealth agencies in 1993-4 and compare it with the resources allocated t o patients registered with fundholding practices for the same type of care. To investigate whether fundholding practices and health agencies pay different amounts for inpatient care. Design-Examination of hospi tal episode statisties, 1991 census data, and family health services a uthority and health agency records. Setting-Health agencies and fundho lding practices in the former North West Thames Regional Health Author ity. Main outcome measures-Amount per capita allocated to inpatient an d outpatient care for patients registered with fundholding and non-fun dholding practices. Average specialty cost per finished consultant epi sode for health agencies and fundholding practices. Results-The ratio of per capita funding for patients in non-fundholding practices to tho se in fundholding practices ranged from 59% to 87% for inpatient and d ay case care and from 36% to 106% for outpatient care. Average special ty costs per episode were similar for fundholding practices and health agencies. Conclusions-Fundholding practices seem to have been funded more generously than non-fundholding practices in North West Thames.