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Variations in the costs of child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient units

Beecham, Jennifer, Chisholm, Daniel, O'Herlihy, Anne, Astin, Jack (2003) Variations in the costs of child and adolescent psychiatric inpatient units. British Journal of Psychiatry, 183 (3). pp. 220-225. ISSN 0007-1250. (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:764)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.

Abstract

Background Child and adolescent in-patient care is a highly specialised service, ideally requiring planning at a national level, but there are no routine data collections specifically for these services.

Aims To estimate unit costs for child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient units and to analyse the variations in costs between units.

Method Data collection alongside a national survey with cost estimations guided byprinciples drawn from economic theory. Bivariate and multivariate analyses are employed to identify cost influences.

Results Fifty-eight units could provide sufficient data to allow calculation of the cost per in-patient day; mean=£197 (s.d.=71.6; 1999–2000 prices). The management sector, type of provision, number of rooms, capacity and location explained nearly half of the cost variation.

Conclusions Child and adolescent psychiatric in-patient units are an expensive resource, with personnel absorbing two-thirds of the total costs. Costs per in-patient day vary fourfold and the exploration of cost variations can inform commissioning strategies.

Item Type: Article
Additional information: The Department of Health funded the study. There were no competing interests.
Subjects: H Social Sciences
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research
Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Personal Social Services Research Unit
Depositing User: Samantha Osborne
Date Deposited: 19 Dec 2007 18:28 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:39 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/764 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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