- Room 003, 10 Portland Villas, Drake Circus, Plymouth, PL4 8AA
- +44 1752 585753
- S.Asthana@plymouth.ac.uk
Profiles
Professor Sheena Asthana
Professor
School of Law, Criminology and Government (Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Business)
Sheena can be contacted through arrangement with our Press Office, to speak to the media on these areas of expertise.
- Health services
- NHS
- Health inequalities
- Health resource allocation
- Local government funding
Email publicrelations@plymouth.ac.uk to enquire.
Having gained a First Class (congratulatory) degree in Geography from Oxford University and a PhD (in Community Medicine) from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, I began my research career examining community-based health strategies for slum dwellers and people vulnerable to HIV/AIDS in India.
Personal circumstances (five children and two informally adopted!) necessitated a shift in focus to UK health and health care. I have since established a large programme of health policy and health services research, involving a multi-disciplinary team of researchers, collaboration across academic institutions, strong collaborative links with NHS constituencies, the use of extensive health service, public health and related datasets, and a range of quantitative and qualitative research methods.
I have been an applicant on around £11 million of funded research projects, attracting over £1.6 million as a principal investigator.
My research programme spans five broad areas: formula funding of English public services & health care equity; health inequalities and evidence based public health; community-based health development (including social prescribing), eHealth and health services evaluation/knowledge mobilisation.
My impact case study on the formula funding of public services was rated a 4* in REF 2014.
I am active in public and third sector governance, various board/committee appointments including the Commission for Rural Communities, the Royal Society for Public Health, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), Change, Grow, Live and the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation. I am currently the Director of the Plymouth Institute of Health and Care Research. Covering research in medicine, dentistry, biomedicine, nursing, midwifery, allied health professions, social work, psychology and health services research, this role is a joy and a challenge!
Qualifications
BA (Hons) in Geography. First Class (Congratulatory); St John’s College, Oxford, 1986
PhD in Community Medicine, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, 1991
Roles on external bodies
2017 - Member, Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) (DH)
2017 - Member, Commissioning Panel,Policy Research Programme (DH)
2017 - Trustee, Change Grow Live (national charity)
2016 - Non Executive Director, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (DH)
2014-17 - Member of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) (DH)
2014 - Member of the Advisory Group to‘The Project’ (NGO providing mental health support to children and young people)
2014 - Panel Member (Funding),Devon Community Foundation
2014 - Steering Group Member, Rural England
2012-15 - Council Member, Royal Society for Public Health
2012-15 - Trustee, Plymouth Age Concern
2011-15 - Member, Commissioning Panel, Policy Research Programme (DH)
2011-12 - Member, Community Organisers and Community First Expert Reference Group (Cabinet Office)
2007-13 - Member, Audit and Risk Committee,Commission for Rural Communities
2006-13 - Board Member, Commission for Rural Communities (DEFRA)
2006-2008 - Member, Policy and Management Group, Devon Rural Network
2006-2008 - Member, Rural Practice Standing Group, Royal College of General Practitioners
2005-2006 - Board Member, Countryside Agency (DEFRA)
2003-2006 - Advisory Editor, Social Science and Medicine
2001-2003 - Technical Advisor. Rural Health Allocations Forum
2000-2002 - Member, Cornwall & Isles of Scilly Health Action Zone Steering Group
1999-2002 - Chair, Geography of Health Research Group of the Royal Geographical Society and the Institute of British Geographers
1999 - Visiting Lecturer, University of Turkku, Finland
1998-2002 - Member, Plymouth Health Action Zone Evaluation & Research Board
1997-2000 - Book Reviews Editor, Health and Place
1996-1999 - Secretary & Treasurer, Geography of Health Research Group of the Royal Geographical Society and the Institute of British Geographers
1995-2008 - Member, Editorial Board, Health and Place
Teaching interests
Health policy; Social Justice; International Social Policy; Globalisation and health; Sustainability
Staff serving as external examiners
External Examiner (PhD), IDS, University of Sussex, 2013.
External Examiner (PhD), Northumbria University, 2011.
External Examiner (PhD), Department of Geography & Geosciences, University of St Andrews, 2008.
External Examiner (PhD), Department of Geography, Queen Mary and Westfield College, University of London, May, 2000.
External Examiner (PhD), Dept of Urban Planning and Development, South Bank University, May 1999.
Research interests
- Formula funding
- NHS resource allocation
- Health care inequalities
- Health inequalities
- Community-based strategies in health development (including HIV/AIDS)
- Evaluation
Other research
Public service funding; police formula; local government funding; social care funding; evaluation
Research degrees awarded to supervised students
P. Evans: Urban Mosquitoes and Measures for their Control in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Awarded 1995; ESRC funded.
P. Vong-Ek. Factors Affecting the Incidence and Duration of Breastfeeding in Thailand: Implications for Health Promotion. Awarded 2000. WHO funded.
S. Burley. Changing Childbirth: the Role of Antenatal Services. Awarded 2004. University Scholarship, University of Plymouth.
S. Richardson.The Challenge of Interagency Information Sharing. A Systemic Analysis of Two Sure Start Children's Centres. Awarded 2007, ESRC funded
E. Williams. Non-Governmental Organizations and HIV/AIDS in Kolkata, India: A Discursive Analysis of Policy and Programming. Awarded 2009. ESRC funded.
Grants & contracts
2018
R. Byng, S. Asthana. Evaluation of the organisational integration and implementation of new care models in South Devon and Torbay – using a researcher in residence model; £320,244; Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust, 2018-2020
K. Husk, S. Asthana, R Byng. VCSE Cornwall Social Prescribing Evaluation.£14,985; South West ASHN. 2018-20.
S Asthana and A Gibson. Children's services research project for MHCLG. LG Futures/MHCLC, £19,800; March 2018-February 2019.
2017
R. Jones, S. Asthana, M. Phillips. Innovation in Healthy Ageing European Regional Development Fund, £81,982; September 2017-August 2018.
M. Paisey, R. Jones, S. Asthana et al. E-Health Productivity and Innovation in Cornwall (EPIC). European Regional Development Fund, £ 2,730,513; May 2017-April 2020.
2016
S. Asthana, A. Gibson, P. Hewson. Fair funding for rural policing. National Rural Crime Network, £30,931; May-August, 2016
B. Benjamin, S. Asthana, R. Byng. How can multiple initiatives for integrated care improve experience and outcomes for patients with multiple long term conditions in the Torbay and South Devon area? Torbay Medical Research Fund,£161,286; 2016-2018
B. Benjamin, S. Asthana, R. Byng. Evaluation of new system model and development of system wide evaluation framework. £50,000; Torbay and South Devon NHS Trust, 2016-2017
2015
R. Sheaff, P. Allen, J. Clark, R. Mannion, S. Asthana, A. Gibson, J. Halliday. Diverse Healthcare Providers: Behaviour in response to commissioners, patients and innovations, NIHR PRP, £482,758, 2015-17.
2014
S. Asthana. Review of the Police Funding Formula. Police & Crime Commissioners Treasurers’ Society. £4,000. 2014.
2011
R. Sheaff, J. Ovretveit, S, Peckham. R. Byng, M. Exworthy, S. Asthana. Integration and continuity in primary care: polyclinics and alternatives. NIHR (SDO), £414, 950, 2011-2014
S. Asthana, A. Gibson, T. Bailey, P. Hewson, C. Dibben, G. Moon. Equity of Access to Cardiac and Mental Health Services in England. NIHR (Health Services Research Programme), £279,517, 2011-2014.
2009
S. Asthana and J. Halliday. Evaluation of the Peninsula Cancer Network Project for raising Skin Cancer Awareness and Prevention. Peninsula Cancer Network, £29,643, 2009-10
2008
S. Asthana, A. Gibson, J. Halliday, P. Hewson. Resource Allocation in Statutory Service Provision: an Assessment of the Police and Fire Formulae. Rural Services Partnership, £20,222, 2008.
S. Asthana, A. Gibson, T. Bailey, C. Dibbens. Developing a resource allocation formula at General Practice level based on individual patient characteristics (Person-Based Resource Allocation): Mental Health. NIHR (Policy Research Programme), £191,216, 2008
A. Gibson and S. Asthana. Resource Allocation through the Local Government Finance Settlement: How Do Rural Areas Fare? Rural Services Partnership, £18,850, 2008.
C. Hyde, C. Meads, S. Bryan, P. Barton, D. Moore, C. Davenport, J, Parry, J. Deeks, J. Hawker, A. Fry-Smith, S. Bayliss, K. Stein, R. Andersen, N. Britten, R. Garside, S. Asthana, M. Somerville. National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) Centre for Public Health Excellence (CPHE) Public Health Collaborating Centre, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence, £2,212,000; 2008-2011.
2007
S. Asthana, A. Gibson, T. Bailey, C. Dibbens. The feasibility of developing an approach to Person Based Resource Allocation (PBRA) based on epidemiological data. NIHR (Policy Research Programme), £121,269, 2007.
A. Gibson and S. Asthana. NHS resource allocation: does West Sussex get its ‘fair share’? West Sussex County Council, £8,998,2007.
A. Gibson, S. Asthana, J. Flowers. A review of the weighted capitation formula and its funding impact on Primary Care Trusts in the East of England SHA. East of England Strategic Health Authority,£16,171, 2007.
2005
S. Asthana. Meeting Health Needs in Rural Areas, Research Councils UK (Academic Fellowship), £125,000,2005-10.
2003
S. Asthana. Our City’s Health: developing Practical Tool-kits for policies to address Health Inequalities. Plymouth PCT Public Health Department,£20,000, 2003-2004.
2001
S. Asthana, P. Brigham, J. Halliday, A. Gibson, I. Mackenzie, J. Dicker, G. Floyd, G. Moon. Review of the Effectiveness of measuring Rural Deprivation. South West Public Health Observatory, £24,934. 2001.
S. Asthana, A. Gibson, G. Moon, P. Brigham and J. Halliday. Health Resource Allocation: What Case can be made for Rurality? Rural Health Allocations Forum, £59,214.2001-2002.
2000
S. Asthana, A. Gibson, J. Halliday, J. Dixon, G. Moon. Evaluation of the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Action Zone, £438,751, 2000-2002.
S. Asthana, J. Chandler, J. Dixon and J. Halliday, Partnership Working in Plymouth HAZ, Plymouth HAZ, £65,000, 2000-2002.
1999
S. Asthana, G. Moon, J. Dicker and A. Gibson. Inequalities in Health Service Utilization at the General Practice Level. Economic and Social Research Council, £81,481. 1999-2001.
S. Asthana. The additional costs of delivering health and social services in remote and rural areas. Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Health Authority, £16,500. 1999.
1998
S. Asthana. Health Needs and Service Deficiencies within Plymouth Health Action Zone. Plymouth Health Action Zone and University of Plymouth, £78,000.1998-2001
1997
A. Gibson, S. Asthana and E. Wragg. Parental Choice, Selection by Ability and a ‘Free Market’ in Education: Raising Educational Standards or the Social Polarization of Schools? The Nuffield Foundation. £39,700. 1997-1999.
1996
S. Asthana and A. Gibson. GP Fund holding and the Provision of Primary Health Care: A Socio-Spatial Analysis. University of Plymouth, QR Funds, £18,000. 1996-1997.
1993
S. Asthana.. Community Participation in HIV Prevention and Care in Madras. Nuffield Foundation, £1,540. 1993.
Key publications
Key publications are highlighted
Journals
Articles
2020 'Integrating the voluntary sector in personalised care: mixed methods study of the outcomes from wellbeing co-ordination for adults with complex needs' Journal of Integrated Care ahead-of-print, (ahead-of-print) , DOI Open access
2020 'eHealth technologies and the know-do gap: exploring the role of knowledge mobilisation' Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice 0, (0) 0-0 , DOI Open access
2020 'Capturing the Role of Context in Complex System Change: An Application of the Canadian Context and Capabilities for Integrating Care (CCIC) Framework to an Integrated Care Organisation in the UK' International Journal of Integrated Care 20, (1) , DOI Open access
2020 'Capturing the role of context in complex system change: an application of the Canadian Context and Capabilities for Integrating Care (CCIC) Framework to the English Context' International Journal of Integrated Care. , DOI Open access
2019 'Why does the NHS struggle to adopt eHealth innovations? A review of macro, meso and micro factors' BMC Health Services Research , DOI Open access
2019 'Does a social prescribing ‘holistic’ link-worker for older people with complex, multi-morbidity improve well-being and frailty and reduce health and social care use and costs? A 12-month before and after evaluation' Primary Health Care Research and Development , DOI Open access
2019 'Repositioning the Boundaries between Public and Private Healthcare Providers in the English NHS' Journal of Health Organization and Management , DOI Open access
2019 'Reflections on the Researcher-in-Residence model co-producing knowledge for action in an Integrated Care Organisation: a mixed methods case study using an impact survey and field notes' Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice 15, (2) 197-215 , DOI Open access
2018 'Social prescribing: where is the evidence? Commissioned editorial' British Journal of General Practice 69, (678) 6-7 , DOI Open access
2018 'The National Health Service (NHS) in 'crisis': the role played by a shift from horizontal to vertical principles of equity' Health Economics, Policy and Law 1-17 , DOI Open access
2018 'The National Health Service (NHS) in 'crisis': the role played by a shift from horizontal to vertical principles of equity' Health Economics, Policy and Law , DOI Open access
2017 'Collaborative action for person-centred coordinated care (P3C): an approach to support the development of a comprehensive system-wide solution to fragmented care' Health Research Policy and Systems , DOI Open access
2017 'Bridging the discursive gap between lay and medical discourse in care coordination' Sociology of Health and Illness 39, (6) , DOI Open access
2016 'Inequity in cardiovascular care in the English National Health Service (NHS): a scoping review of the literature' Health & Social Care in the Community , DOI Open access
2016 'A qualitative study of diverse providers' behaviour in response to commissioners, patients and innovators in England: research protocol' BMJ Open , DOI Open access
2016 'Equity of utilisation of cardiovascular care and mental health services in England: a cohort-based cross-sectional study using small-area estimation' Health Services and Delivery Research 4, (14) 1-712 , DOI Open access
2015 'Integration and Continuity of Primary Care: Polyclinics and Alternatives, a Patient-Centred Analysis of How Organisation Constrains Care Coordination' Health Services and Delivery Research 3, (35) 1-150 , DOI Open access
2015 'Integration and Continuity of Primary Care: Polyclinics and Alternatives, a Patient-Centred Analysis of How Organisation Constrains Care Coordination' Health Services and Delivery Research 3, Publisher Site Open access
2013 'Policy Analytics Need More Than A Spreadsheet: A case study in funding formulae' Annals of Operational Research , DOI
2013 'Playing with fire: Limitations of the Big Society for an emergency service' Public Policy and Administration 28, (3) 290-305 Publisher Site
2013 'Playing with fire: Limitations of the Big Society for an emergency service' Public Policy and Administration 28, (3)
2013 'Acute care: The real reason for 'failing' hospitals' Health Serv J 123, (6343) 20-22
2013 'Francis and funding: an explanation for ‘failing’ hospitals' Health Services Journal
2012 'Playing with fire: Limitations of the Big Society for an emergency service' Public Policy & Administration 28, (3) , DOI
2012 'Lansley is right: age trumps poverty' Health Serv J 122, (6306) 16-17
2012 'The medicalisation of health inequalities and the English NHS: the role of resource allocation' Health Economics, Policy and Law , DOI
2011 'Devolved commissioning, population size and budgetary risk: evidence from the modelling of ‘fair share’ practice budgets for mental health' Journal of Health Services Research and Policy
2011 'Setting health care capitations through diagnosis-based risk adjustment: a suitable model for the English NHS' Health Policy 101, , DOI
2011 'General practitioner commissioning consortia and budgetary risk: evidence from the modelling of 'fair share' practice budgets for mental health' J Health Serv Res Policy 16, (2) 95-101 , DOI
2011 'Resource allocation for English local government: a critique of the four block model' Journal of the Royal Statistical Society, Series A 174, (3) 1-18
2011 'Resource allocation for English local government: a critique of the four-block model' JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL STATISTICAL SOCIETY SERIES A-STATISTICS IN SOCIETY 174, 529-546 , DOI
2010 'Liberating the NHS? A Commentary on the Langley White Paper, “Equity and Excellence”' Social Science and Medicine 72, (6) 815-820 , DOI
2009 'Social exclusion and social justice: a rural perspective on resource allocation' Policy and Politics 37, (2) 201-214 , DOI
2008 'Deprivation, demography, and the distribution of general practice: challenging the conventional wisdom of inverse care' Br J Gen Pract 58, (555) 720-728 , DOI
2008 'Deprivation, demography and the distribution of general practice: challenging the conventional wisdom of inverse care' British Journal of General Practice 58, (555) 718-727
2008 'Health care equity, health equity and resource allocation: towards a normative approach to achieving the core principles of the NHS' Radical Statistics 96, 6-26
2007 'From evidence to practice: addressing health inequalities through Sure Start' Evidence & Policy: A Journal of Research, Debate and Practice 3, (1) 31-45 , DOI
2006 'A formula for unfairness' Health Serv J 116, (6032) 18-19
2006 'Inter-agency information sharing in health and social care services: The role of professional culture' BRITISH JOURNAL OF SOCIAL WORK 36, (4) 657-669 , DOI
2006 'Developing an evidence base for policies and interventions to address health inequalities: the analysis of "public health regimes"' Milbank Q 84, (3) 577-603 , DOI
2006 'Inter-agency information sharing in health and social care services: The role of professional culture' British Journal of Social Work 36, (4) 657-669
2005 'Rationing in response to NHS deficits: rural patients are likely to be affected most' BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL 331, (7530) 1472-1472 , DOI
2005 'Policy and Legal Influences on Inter‐Organisational Information Sharing in Health and Social Care Services' Journal of Integrated Care 13, (3) 3-10 , DOI
2005 'Policy at the margins: developing community capacity in a rural Health Action Zone' AREA 37, (2) 180-188 , DOI
2005 'Rationing in response to NHS deficits: rural patients are likely to be affected most' British Medical Journal 331, (7530) 1472-1472
2004 'What can rural agencies do to address the additional costs of rural services? A typology of rural service innovation' Health Soc Care Community 12, (6) 457-465 , DOI
2004 'The demographic and social class basis of inequality in self reported morbidity: an exploration using the Health Survey for England' J Epidemiol Community Health 58, (4) 303-307 , DOI
2004 'The emergent role of the link worker: a study in collaboration' J Interprof Care 18, (1) 17-28 , DOI
2004 'The pursuit of equity in NHS resource allocation: should morbidity replace utilisation as the basis for setting health care capitations?' Soc Sci Med 58, (3) 539-551 , DOI
2004 'The demographic and social class basis of inequality in self reported morbidity: an exploration using the Health Survey for England' Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health 58, (4) 303-307
2004 'The pursuit of equity in NHS resource allocation: should morbidity replace utilisation as the basis for setting health care capitations?' Social Science & Medicine 58, (3) 539-551
2003 'Intermediate Care: Its Place in a Whole‐Systems Approach' Journal of Integrated Care 11, (6) 15-24 , DOI
2003 'Allocating resources for health and social care: the significance of rurality' Health Soc Care Community 11, (6) 486-493 , DOI
2003 'Allocating resources for health and social care: the significance of rurality' Health & Social Care in the Community 11, (6) 486-493
2002 'Partnership working in public policy provision: A framework for evaluation' SOCIAL POLICY & ADMINISTRATION 36, (7) 780-795 , DOI
2002 'Understanding social polarization: A possible research agenda' Research Papers in Education 17, (4) 414-415
2002 'Themes in British health geography at the end of the century: a review of published research 1998-2000' Soc Sci Med 55, (1) 167-173 , DOI
2002 'Geographies of need and the new NHS: methodological issues in the definition and measurement of the health needs of local populations' HEALTH & PLACE 8, (1) 47-60 , DOI
2002 'Geographies of need and the new NHS: methodological issues in the definition and measurement of the health needs of local populations' Health & Place 8, (1) 47-60
2001 'The social construction of male 'homosexuality' in India: implications for HIV transmission and prevention' Soc Sci Med 52, (5) 707-721 , DOI
2000 'Estimating the socioeconomic characteristics of school populations with the aid of pupil postcodes and small-area census data: An appraisal' Environment and Planning A 32, (7) 1267-1285 , DOI
2000 'Local markets and the polarization of public-sector schools in England and Wales' Transactions of the Institute of British Geographers 25, (3) 303-319 , DOI
2000 'What's in a number? Commentary on Gorard and Fitz's ‘Investigating the determinants of segregation between schools’' Research Papers in Education 15, (2) 133-153 , DOI
1999 'The geography of fundholding in southwest England: implications for the evolution of primary care groups' Health Place 5, (4) 271-278 , DOI
1998 'Schools, Pupils and Examination Results: contextualising school ‘performance‘' British Educational Research Journal 24, (3) 269-282 , DOI
1998 'School performance, school effectiveness and the 1997 white paper' Oxford Review of Education 24, (2) 195-210 , DOI
1996 'Community participation in HIV prevention: problems and prospects for community-based strategies among female sex workers in Madras' Soc Sci Med 43, (2) 133-148 , DOI
1996 'AIDS-related policies, legislation and programme implementation in India' Health Policy Plan 11, (2) 184-197 , DOI
1996 'Women's health and women's empowerment: a locality perspective' Health & Place 2, (1) 1-13 , DOI
1995 'Variations in poverty and health between slum settlements: Contradictory findings from Visakhapatnam, India' Social Science & Medicine 40, (2) 177-188 , DOI
1994 'Integrated slum improvement in Visakhapatnam, India' Habitat International 18, (1) 57-70 , DOI
'A Tangled Web: Complexity and Inequality in the English Local Government Finance Settlement' Local Government Studies
'Understanding Resource Allocation in social care for frail older people: lessons from a national survey' Journal of Long-Term Care Open access
Letters
Books
2006 What Works in Tackling Health Inequalities?. The Policy Press
2006 What works in tackling health inequalities?: Pathways, policies and practice through the lifecourse.
Chapters
2009 'Health and Development' in Kitchin R; Thrift N International Encyclopedia of Human Geography Oxford Elsevier 28-34
Reports
2018 Diverse Healthcare Providers: Behaviour in response to commissioners, patients and innovations. National Institute for Health Research Policy Research Programme Open access
2016 Police Funding Arrangements in Engand and Wales: Report to the NRCN. National Rural Crime Network Open access
2012 Variations in Access to Social Care for Vulnerable Older People in England: Is there a Rural Dimension?. Variations in Access to Social Care for Vulnerable Older People in England: Is there a Rural Dimension? Commission for Rural Communities London Commission for Rural Communities
2009 Developing a Person Based Resource Allocation Formula for Setting Practice-Level Mental Health Budgets: 2009/10 and 2010/11. Department of Health, Policy Research Programme
2009 Resource Allocation in Statutory Service provision: an assessment of the police and fire formulae. Rural Services Partnership
2008 Person Based Resource Allocation (PBRA): The Feasibility of Developing a Need-Based Approach to PBRA. Department of Health, Policy Research Programme
Posters
'Impact of “enhanced” intermediate care located in a health & wellbeing hub at the integrated care organisation (ico) in torbay and south devon, uk' , DOI Open access
'Implementation and impact of co-locating the voluntary sector with a multidisciplinary, cross-sector community hub at the Integrated Care Organisation (ICO) in Torbay and South Devon, UK' , DOI Open access
Other Publications
2016 What Causes Stress in Social Work?.
Funding Implications for Rural PCTs of the new NHS Resource Allocation Methodology.
Other academic activities
Expert witness or consultancy work
External expert, National Audit Office, Landscape Review on Formula Funding, 2011.
Written and oral evidence presented to the All Party Parliamentary Group (Rural Services) Enquiry on Resource Allocation, 9th February, 2010.
External expert, DEFRA Evidence Investment Strategy, 2009. Written and oral evidence presented to the Health Select Committee’s Inquiry on NHS Deficits, 19th October, 2006
Technical Advisor on Resource Allocation to Rural Health Allocation Project Team, 2001-2003.