Expenditure on mental health care by English health authorities: a potential cause of inequity.
BACKGROUND
The York resource allocation formula includes a calculation of the amount needed to purchase mental health services equitably in each health authority in England. However, the amount which is actually spent on services is at the discretion of the authority.


OBJECTIVE
To compare expenditure on mental health services with allocation, and test the hypothesis that differences between them are to the disadvantage of services in deprived areas.


METHODS
A comparison of routine expenditure and allocation data, and linear regression modelling of the ratio of expenditure to allocation.


RESULTS
The ratio of expenditure to allocation varies widely. Relative underspending occurs more frequently in deprived areas, although not in the four inner-London health authorities.


CONCLUSIONS
The intentions of the York formula are not achieved in practice. The implications of the formula for mental health should be made explicit to health authorities, and shortfalls in mental health expenditure relative to allocation should be justified at a local level.
Bindman
J
J
Section of Community Psychiatry (PRiSM), Institute of Psychiatry, Denmark Hill, London, UK.
Glover
G
G
Goldberg
D
D
Chisholm
D
D
D003365:Costs and Cost Analysis; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000191:economics; D004739:England; D015276:Health Care Rationing / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006291:Health Policy / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008605:Mental Health Services / Q000191:economics*; D012040:Regional Health Planning; D012111:Residence Characteristics