How does the Arbuthnott Formula work?
The Formula assesses each NHS Board’s relative need for funding, using information about its population size and characteristics that influence the need for healthcare in terms of hospital services, community services and GP prescribing. The main drivers of the Formula are: (i) share of the Scottish population living in the NHS Board area; (ii) age structure of the population and relative number of males and females; (iii) morbidity and life circumstances (e.g. deprivation); and (iv) additional costs of delivering healthcare in remote and rural areas.
Related Questions
- The Arbuthnott Formula does not provide us with sufficient resources to cover the healthcare needs of our population, yet it is supposed to be needs-based. Why is this?
- Why do the relative shares as calculated by the Arbuthnott Formula differ from the actual shares that NHS Boards receive of the final allocations?
- Why do we need a review of Arbuthnott when the Formula has not been fully implemented (that is, not all Boards have reached parity)?
