Despite initially rejecting the notion of an internal NHS market when it came to power in 1997, the Labour government has reintroduced competition to health services over the last three years. But, as it is the product of a series of separate policy developments, including extending choice of provider, expanding ...
Foundation trusts, which were first set up in 2004, represent a radical departure from the way in which health services are held to account. The traditional accountability of NHS hospitals to the Department of Health has been replaced by a new accountability of foundation trusts to their members and their ...
Primary care has been the subject of a quiet revolution in recent years, with the ending of the monopoly of provision by independently contracted GPs and the introduction of a range of new targets and new forms of first contact care. Now it is poised for further radical change with ...