Value-Based Healthcare in a Universal System: Reconceptualising VBHC Through a Quintuple Aim Lens in the NHS

About the Project

Project Details

The NHS faces a defining challenge: how to deliver care that genuinely matters to patients while sustaining the workforce that provides it and addressing the social inequalities that drive demand. Value-based healthcare (VBHC) has emerged as an influential framework for linking patient outcomes to resource use but in its current form, it doesn't fully answer that challenge. This fully funded PhD will reimagine VBHC for the NHS context, using the Quintuple Aim as a lens to bring together what existing models too often treat separately: patient outcomes, resource stewardship, staff wellbeing, health equity, and societal value. The project asks what would a model of healthcare value look like if it incorporated all five dimensions? Based in the English Midlands, the research will combine qualitative fieldwork, analysis of outcome and governance frameworks, and staff-reported data across NHS case sites. You will engage with debates spanning healthcare management, organisation studies, and public policy, and your findings will have direct relevance for how NHS systems are designed, led, and governed. This is an opportunity to build your career by working with an experienced supervisory team to produce research that matters to the NHS, to policymakers, and to the academic field.

Person Specification

The successful applicant should hold, or expect to achieve:

A First or Upper Second Class Honours undergraduate degree, and a Masters degree with Merit or Distinction, both in relevant subjects.

Qualifications from overseas institutions will be considered, but performance must be equivalent to that described above, and the University reserves the right to ascertain this equivalence according to its own criteria.

Desirable / Essential Skills or Experience

Required characteristics

Candidates should demonstrate clear interest in interdisciplinary research and the ability to engage with debates spanning healthcare management, organisations, policy, and workforce sustainability. They should have strong analytical and critical thinking skills, evidence of research training, and excellent written and spoken English. Applicants should also be able to work independently, manage a substantial research project, and contribute to a collaborative supervisory environment.

Desirable characteristics

A strong academic record, including a Master’s degree with distinction or equivalent achievement. Prior research or professional experience related to healthcare settings, healthcare management, health policy, or workforce issues in healthcare. Interest in, or experience of, operational aspects of healthcare, including service delivery, process improvement, systems thinking, performance management, or related areas. Experience with qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods research, particularly case study research, interviewing, document analysis, or survey methods, would be an advantage.

Submitting an application

We can only consider applications that are complete and have all supporting documents. Applications that do not provide all the relevant documents will be automatically rejected.Your application must include:

1. English language copies of the transcripts and certificates for all your higher education degrees, including any Bachelor degrees.
2. A Research Statement detailing your understanding of the research area, how you would approach the project, and a brief review of relevant literature. Be sure to use the title of the research project you are applying for. There is no set format or word count.
3. A personal statement which outlines any further information which you think is relevant to your application, such as your personal suitability for research, career aspirations, possible future research interests, and further description of relevant employment experience.
4. A Curriculum Vitae (Resume) which details your education and work history.
5. Two academic refereeswho can discuss your suitability for independent research. References must be on headed paper, signed and dated no more than 2 years old. At least one reference should be from your most recent University. You can submit your references at a later date if necessary.
6. Evidence that you meet the English Language requirements. If you do not currently meet the language requirements, you can submit this at a later stage.
7. A copy of your passport. Where relevant, include evidence of settled or pre-settled status.

Contact Information

For enquiries about this project, contact a.mcdermott10@aston.ac.uk

Location

This position will be based on the Aston Campus in Birmingham, UK. The successful candidate will need to be located within a reasonable distance of the campus, and will be expected to visit in person regularly.

Interviews

Interviews will be conducted online via Microsoft Teams. If you are shortlisted, you will be contacted directly with details of the interview.

Funding Notes

This project covers all tuition fees and includes an annual stipend.

Please note that the successful candidate will be responsible for any costs relating to moving to Birmingham and/or visiting the Aston campus. International students must meet the financial requirements for the visa, flights, and NHS Surcharge. Applicants should be confident that they can meet these costs before applying.

Further information can be found here: Financial Requirements | Aston University

Project supervisors

• Prof Aoife McDermott
• Prof Roberta Fida
• Dr Ahmad Beltagui