Changes to the NICE cost-effectiveness threshold

NICE has announced that the cost-effectiveness threshold is changing in the UK. The standard range for new medicines is confirmed to increase from £20,000 per QALY gained to £25,000 to £35,000 per QALY gained (effective April 2026).

While the shift aims to "unlock innovation and support the life sciences sector", it puts the economics of healthcare value firmly back into the spotlight. As with all policy decisions, there are trade-offs. The question is whether the intended benefits truly justify what we are trading off.

Sign up to follow us for updates as more information is released. In the meantime, revisit YHEC's blog post, exploring the threshold debate and the implications of the change.

Informing parliamentary debate on medicines optimisation

YHEC Director of NHS Consulting, Nick Hex, and Research Consultant, Hannah Ross, were recently invited to contribute to a parliamentary roundtable hosted by Sadik Al-Hassan MP.

They presented findings from their recent report on medicines optimisation, highlighting how commissioning community pharmacies to support people in the use of their medicines could generate meaningful cost savings for the NHS.

Working in partnership with the National Pharmacy Association, YHEC conducted an economic analysis indicating that existing commissioned services, such as the New Medicines Service and the Discharge Medicines Service, have significant potential to deliver further savings if implemented more effectively.

Read the full report. 

Navigating the complexities of costing digital health and MedTech

Evaluating digital health technologies and medical devices is rarely straightforward.

For too long, we’ve tried to fit these complex innovations into traditional "one drug, one patient" economic models. The result? Complicated costing, difficulty in demonstrating local affordability and unnecessary barriers to patient access.

In his latest blog, Hayden Holmes, Director of Digital Health Technologies Consulting at YHEC, explores the major complexities in MedTech pricing and why innovative payment structures are essential to increase access across the NHS.

Read the blog post and contact us for more information on YHEC's services. 

YHEC in the news!

An evaluation undertaken by YHEC's Laura Kelly and Ellen Telfer-Thomas made headlines in the Times.

The analysis looked at the cost-effectiveness of a pioneering new stem-cell treatment for end-stage heart failure. The groundbreaking therapy, led by a team at St Bartholomew’s Hospital in London, is a one-off procedure which involves taking stem cells from bone marrow in the hip then injecting them back into the patient’s arteries, where they travel to the heart and help regenerate damaged heart tissue.

YHEC's research found that rolling it out on the NHS would be cost-saving or cost-neutral. Heart failure accounts for one million hospital bed days and 100,000 admissions a year, and a heart transplant can cost £300,000. This compares with £12,000 for the stem-cell treatment.

Subscribers to the Times can read more here.

The opportunities and challenges of rolling out a digital 'HealthStore'

The NHS 10-Year Plan puts forward plans for a national digital ‘HealthStore’ to provide evidence-based apps supporting prevention, self-management and more efficient care. Project Director, Robert Malcolm, considers the opportunities and challenges for the NHS and for digital health innovators in a YHEC blog post. 

Robert highlights the benefits, such as the ability of evidence-led apps to offer interim support for patients on waiting lists and for them to help maintain or stabilise symptoms. There are some wins for health systems too. A centralised platform may streamline commissioning, reduce variation and prioritise technologies that demonstrate clear value.

Robert also reflects on the challenges of sustainable funding for digital apps, market resilience and digital literacy.

Read more.

Capturing what matters to patients

YHEC Project Director, Andria Joseph, showcased YHEC's expertise in patient-reported outcomes (PROs) by presenting two research posters at the British Thoracic Society Winter Meeting 2025.

Andria's presentations focused on crucial advancements in measuring treatment effectiveness for Pulmonary Hypertension associated with Interstitial Lung Disease (PH-ILD).

The insights shared demonstrate our commitment to rigorous methodology in PROs and how this can be applied to advance clinical research.

Ready to apply this level of expertise to your next project? Contact us to discuss how YHEC can support you.

YHEC raises over £7,000 for York Foodbank

YHEC has had another strong year of fundraising in support of our 2025 charity, York Foodbank.

Members of the team helped out a food drive at a local supermarket, and Chris Bartlett delivered a generous collection of donations to round off our efforts for the year.

Throughout 2025, colleagues have run marathons, clocked up miles on sponsored walks, baked, and taken part in auctions, quizzes and games.

Together, we have raised more than £7,000.
Well done team!

Meet the team: Barbara Uzdzinska

YHEC Senior Consultant, Barbara Uzdzinska, brings a blend of NHS experience and health-economics expertise to YHEC’s NHS consulting work. She supports business cases, pathway modelling and evaluations for NHS bodies, government departments, charities and international partners.

In our Meet the Team blog, Barbara talks us through the growing focus on prevention, early intervention and community-based care in the NHS, areas where YHEC already has extensive experience. 

Read the full blog to learn more about Barbara’s work and YHEC’s support for healthcare systems and the public sector.

Staff news

YHEC would like to congratulate Rachael MacDonald on her promotion to Project Director.

Well done Rachael!

YHEC's highlights of 2025

It's been a fantastic year at YHEC!

In 2025:

• We've worked with 103 clients on 194 projects.
• YHEC's staff were authors on 29 publications.
• We delivered a total of 18 training courses and teaching sessions.

• We showcased our research and expertise at 25 conferences or events.

• We launched a brand new website.

• Our new blog debuted in February, and we've posted 14 times this year.

• We continued to grow and develop our team, with 15 new recruits and 8 promotions.

Season's greetings to all our clients and supporters!

If you would like to work with us in 2026, contact us to find out more about our services.

BMC Public Health

New research has mapped the UK economic evidence base underpinning the Healthy Child Programme for 5-to-19-year-olds. It reveals significant gaps that limit informed decision-making for local authorities.

This comprehensive scoping review, led by the University of York's Health Sciences team, was co-authored by YHEC’s Chris Bartlett and Lucy Hillcoat. It examines 39 economic analyses across mental health, physical activity, healthy eating, risk behaviours, bullying, obesity, screening and school-based support services. Despite the breadth of interventions, the evidence remains heterogeneous and often insufficient to guide robust investment decisions, particularly for school nurse-delivered services.

Read the full publication to explore the evidence landscape.

International Journal of Technology Assessment in Healthcare

Diabetes affects over 500 million people globally and contributes substantially to healthcare's environmental impact.

This new commentary, co-authored by YHEC's Melissa Pegg, outlines the environmental challenges and opportunities across the diabetes care pathway, highlighting innovations that reduce resource demand and environmental impact. 

Read more via our website. 

Working with us

YHEC is a great place to work, fostering a collaborative and supportive environment where every individual’s contribution is valued.

We are proud to hold the Gold ‘Investors in People’ accreditation, a testament to our commitment in people management and employee development. 

We are dedicated to creating a workplace where people can thrive and make a real difference.

Find out more about our values and principles and look out for new vacancies on our website.