The Role of the Actuary in the National Health Services

The paper discusses the role of actuaries within the NHS. Actuaries have applied the concept of Geographic Information Systems to health data on patient traffic flows, transportation studies and specialty specific information on NHS providers (such as hospitals, ambulance stations and GP practices). Actuaries have been working with NHS Trusts to generate private patient income. Actuarial modelling developments, as part of a multi-disciplinary approach, have been used to interpret health data and to assist with the reconfiguration of NHS services. Actuaries have also been involved in long-term health services planning and in the financial planning of services for chronically ill patients. The paper outlines a series of case studies involving actuaries working in the NHS, highlighting their unique contributions. The case studies include advising on emergency health services planning, acute hospital service planning, NHS Trust private patient unit income generation, comparative peer group ranking studies, long-term population projections, health needs assessment and a feasibility study for a provider unit to care for the chronically ill. Finally, we discuss the role of the actuary in the NHS and his or her ability to build a communication bridge between NHS purchasers and providers, in the public interest.