Health Care

Originally published in 1980, this book explores how the NHS confronts perennial stresses and problems, considering in particular the allocation of the scarce resources within the health service. Written by distinguished academics, three of whom previously undertook research work for the Royal Commission on the NHS, the discussion centres on whether more could not be spent, whether resources are being allocated equitably, how planning can work most effectively, whether there are feasible ways of financing the service and how organisation and management could be improved: in short, all issues which continue to be pertinent to the NHS today.

Gwyn Bevan is Emeritus Professor of Policy Analysis in the Department of Management at the LSE and an Affiliate Professor in the Istituto di Management of the Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa. He has served on advisory committees to Secretary of State for Health in England, the Welsh Office, the Lord Chancellor's Department, the Department of International Development, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, and the Assembly Government of Wales.

1. Introduction 2. Historical Perspective 3. Organisation and Management 4. The Processes of Resource Allocation 5. Planning Systems 6. Monitoring and Control 7. The Cost of Spending More 8. Allocating Resources Equitably 9. Planning Priorities 10. Alternative Financing 11. Effectiveness and Efficiency 12. Improving Organisation and Management 13. Conclusions.