Professor Sheena Asthana

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!

My original training was in global public health. Following an undergraduate degree in Geography at Oxford University (for which I was awarded a congratulatory First), I undertook my doctoral training at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. My PhD (in Community Medicine) focused on the role of community-based strategies in promoting health development in Indian slum communities and led to (WHO-funded) research on the scope for developing community-based responses to HIV prevention (again in India) with particular reference to commercial sex circuits and circuits of men who have sex with men.

I still publish and teach on issues relating to global public health. However, as I began to have the first of my five children, I shifted my research interests towards the UK. With respect to public health, examples include the largest local evaluation of a Health Action Zone, co-writing a major text on health inequalities and being a board member of the Royal Society for Public Health and a non-executive director (with the public health remit) of NICE. I currently sit on the board of Change Grow Live, a national charity that provides, among other services, support for substance use, domestic abuse, children’s mental health and prisoner’s health. I have learnt a lot from CGL’s ‘Whole Person’ approach and this has complemented current collaborative research on social prescribing, integrated care and the use of the ‘researcher in residence’ methodology to support participative research and practice.

At the other end of the spectrum, I have also established a large programme of health services research that involves the use of extensive health service, public health and related datasets and largely quantitative research methods. For example, with Alex Gibson, an important focus has been the use of synthetic estimation techniques (within a Bayesian analytical framework) to develop robust methods of estimating the prevalence of specific diseases and disease risk factors. We have used such methods to explore variations in health service use (primarily cardiovascular and mental health) relative to underlying need. We have also long argued the case for using such estimates to sense-test the utilisation-based approach to setting health care capitations. Through this work, resource allocation has become an important research focus. For example, Alex and I submitted an impact case study on the formula funding of public services to REF2014. This was rated a 4*. I now sit on the Advisory Committee for Resource Allocation, the independent body that advises NHS England on the distribution of more than £100 billion NHS funding. Alex and I are also completing a book “The Postcode Lottery in English Public Services: the Role of Formula Funding” which covers, not just the NHS, but funding allocations for local government, adult social care, children’s services, education and policing.

Other research interests include eHealth (it has been a joy to be part of the EPIC projects) and a growing interest and concern about poor educational and public health outcomes in coastal areas. I probably come across as a bit of a dilettante. However, I enjoy the breadth of my research interests and I do hope that this has given me good knowledge (complex, layered and longstanding) of the health and social care systems (in the UK and further afield) as well as an ability to identify, nurture and champion research across very different health-related disciplines.

I have been an applicant on over £13 million of funded research projects and continue to enjoy actively researching while also directing a large institute which hosts a wealth of excellent research.

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

Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences

Roles on external bodies

(2021–present) Responsible Member, NIHR Public Health Incubator Steering Group 

(2020–present) Member, Plymouth Health Hub Project Board 

(2020–present) Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences 

(2020–2021) Member, Health Inequalities Task and Finish Group (ACRA) 

(2017–present) Member, Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) (DH) 

(2017–present) Member, Commissioning Panel,Policy Research Programme (DH) 

(2017–present) Trustee, Change Grow Live (national charity) 

(2016–present) Non-Executive Director, National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) (DH) 

(2014–2017) Member of the Technical Advisory Group (TAG) to the Advisory Committee on Resource Allocation (ACRA) (DH) 

(2014–present) Member of the Advisory Group to‘The Project’ (NGO providing mental health support to children and young people) 

(2014–present) Panel Member (Funding), Devon Community Foundation 

(2014–present) Steering Group Member, Rural England 

(2012–2015) Council Member, Royal Society for Public Health

(2012–2015) Trustee, Plymouth Age Concern

(2011–2015) Member, Commissioning Panel, Policy Research Programme (DH)

(2011–2012) Member, Community Organisers and Community First Expert Reference Group (Cabinet Office) 

(2007–2013) Member, Audit and Risk Committee, Commission for Rural Communities

(2006–2013) 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; sustainability; and globalisation and health.

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
• eHealth

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

2021      

C. Hennessy, R. Jones, A. Whittaker, R. Haynes, S. Asthana et al. Connectivity and Digital Design for Health and Well-being Across Generations, Places and Spaces. ESRC. £1,592,835.35; March 2021-February 2024.

2020      

C. Quinn, R. Byng, G. Wallace, S. Asthana. Public Health; Plymouth Priorities (PHeePP). NIHR PRP Local Authority Research System call, £49,810.04, 01/09/2020 - 31/12/2020

K. Husk (PI), S. Asthana, R. Byng, J. Elston, K. Mahtani, S. Tierney, M. Bertotti, C. Dayson, M. Polley, R Kimberlee, H Chatterjee. Academic Partners Collaborative for the National Academy of Social Prescribing. National Academy of Social Prescribing £175,269, September 2020-March 2021

J. Milligan, R Jones, A Chatterjee, S. Asthana et al. E-Health Productivity & Innovation in Cornwall (EPIC2). European Regional Development Fund OC05R18P 0782, £4,147,612; 1st March 2020- 28th February 2023.

2019      

K. Willis, R. Jones, S. Asthana, R. Ayres, H. Sloggett. The Pop-up Centre for Health Technology in Stonehouse. UKRI (Enhancing place-based Partnerships in Public Engagement), 2019-20, £32,401.

R. Sheaff, P. Allen, S. Asthana, J. Clark, M. Exworthy, A. Gibson, R. Mannion, R. Miller. Commissioning, Co-commissioning and Being Commissioned; the NHS and Third Sector Organisations. NIHR, HSRD (18/92 Evaluating approaches to health and care services commissioning and provision with the third sector in the UK). 2019-2022; £800,526.

J. Elston, F. Gradinger, K Husk, S. Asthana, L Burns, R. Byng. Provision of Social Prescribing Evaluation and Research Services for Devon STP. £99,998; Devon Sustainability and Transformation Partnership, 2019-21

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.

Conferences organised

Convenor, ‘Tackling Health Inequalities, an examination of current policy and practice’, Annual Conference of the Royal Geographical Society and Institute of British Geographers, University of Plymouth, January, 2001.

Convenor, 'International Perspectives on the Geography of Health’. 9th International Medical Geography Symposium, Montreal, 3rd-7th July 2000.

Convenor, 'Reflections on Health Geography on the Millennium'. Annual Conference of the Royal Geographical Society and the Institute of British Geographers, University of Sussex, January, 2000.

Convenor, ‘Gender, Health and Development’, Annual Conference of the Royal Geographical Society and the Institute of British Geographers, University of Leicester, January, 1999.

Convenor, ‘Geographical Implications of the NHS Reforms’, Annual Conference of the Royal Geographical Society and the Institute of British Geographers, University of Exeter, January 1997.

Convenor, ‘New Perspectives on the Geography of Health in a Changing World’, Annual Conference of the Royal Geographical Society and the Institute of British Geographers, University of Exeter, January 1997.

Convenor, Medical Geography, Annual Conference of the Royal Geographical Society and the Institute of British Geographers, 3-6th January, 1996, University of Strathclyde.

Convenor, Workshop on 'Current Debates in Health and Development', held at the Midsessional Conference of the IBG Medical Geography Study Group and the IGU Commission on Health, Environment and Development. 13-15th July, 1993, Crossmead Conference Centre, Exeter, UK.

Convenor, Midsessional Conference of the IBG Medical Geography Study Group and the IGU Commission on Health, Environment and Development. 13-15th July, 1993, Crossmead Conference Centre, Exeter, UK.

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.