Standard Cost Method (SCM)

Introduction

The Standard Cost Model (SCM) – provides a framework methodology for measuring administrative costs. This approach does not give a statistically representative measurement, which would be both a very expensive and lengthy process. Instead it is a pragmatic approach to measurement that gives indicative data on the size of burdens to allow reduction targets to be set and areas to focus on identified.

The demand for information placed on the NHS by DH, its Arms Length Bodies and others is currently regulated through the Review of Central Returns (ROCR) and ROCR-lite systems which are operated by The NHS Information Centre for health and social care (IC).

In response to a request from the Cabinet Office Better Regulation Executive, the ROCR team has adopted the Standard Cost Model (SCM) methodology as a way of measuring the burden imposed on the NHS through the collection of centrally required data by the public sector.

Benefits of SCM

  • SCM reviews provide much better estimates of impact and, due to direct NHS input, can also lead to more efficient and better designed collections
  • By looking at the whole process, they provide a much clearer view of the true costs of collection, not simply the data gathering/validation element considered by ROCR at the moment (though this can still be extracted).

Reports

Contact the Streamlining Data Collection Board Secretariat for more details:

Jayne Donachie; jayne.donachie@ic.nhs.uk

Stephen Goodall; Stephen.goodall@ic.nhs.uk