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The National Health Service and the limits to flexibility

The National Health Service and the limits to flexibility The National Health Service and the limits to flexibility Susan and Hamish Mathieson Corby Manchester Metropolitan University The National Health Service (NHS) employs over one million people and staff costs account for around cent of £44 70 per the billion a year of government money devoted to healthcare. the that the Accordingly, way NHS is organised and, in the and remuneration of staff a particular, deployment is matter of both importance and debate. political The NHS and Community Care Act 1990 ushered in a decentralised, quasi- market structure. Accordingly, the NHS is now no longer a rigid unitary organi- of sation with a clear chain command from the Health Secretary to the unit It manager. is a looser, more flexible one. It is separated into purchasers (health authorities and General Practice fund-holders) and providers such as NHS hospitals, known as trusts, or private sector hospitals; and purchasers can choose from whom to buy health care. The trust chief executive is responsible to the trust board, which is the employer of staff working in the trust such (previously staff the were employed by health authority) and the owner of assets, such as buildings and land (previously vested in the Health http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png Public Policy and Administration SAGE

The National Health Service and the limits to flexibility

Corby, Susan; Mathieson, Hamish
Public Policy and Administration , Volume 12 (4): 13 – Oct 1, 1997
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References (28)

Publisher
SAGE
Copyright
Copyright © by SAGE Publications
ISSN
0952-0767
eISSN
1749-4192
DOI
10.1177/095207679701200405
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

The National Health Service and the limits to flexibility Susan and Hamish Mathieson Corby Manchester Metropolitan University The National Health Service (NHS) employs over one million people and staff costs account for around cent of £44 70 per the billion a year of government money devoted to healthcare. the that the Accordingly, way NHS is organised and, in the and remuneration of staff a particular, deployment is matter of both importance and debate. political The NHS and Community Care Act 1990 ushered in a decentralised, quasi- market structure. Accordingly, the NHS is now no longer a rigid unitary organi- of sation with a clear chain command from the Health Secretary to the unit It manager. is a looser, more flexible one. It is separated into purchasers (health authorities and General Practice fund-holders) and providers such as NHS hospitals, known as trusts, or private sector hospitals; and purchasers can choose from whom to buy health care. The trust chief executive is responsible to the trust board, which is the employer of staff working in the trust such (previously staff the were employed by health authority) and the owner of assets, such as buildings and land (previously vested in the Health

Journal

Public Policy and Administration – SAGE

Published: Oct 1, 1997

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