Health Policy In Britain

Systematically updated throughout, the 6th edition of this leading text takes the story of health policy to the end of the Blair era and into the early years of the Brown premiership. It offers a clear and thorough introduction to the history of the NHS, its funding and priorities, and to the process of policy making.

'Christopher Ham's book provides an historical and theoretical introduction to the making, implementation and evaluation of health policy in Britain. It has been completely revised throughout for this third edition with new chapters added on the current health service reforms and key issues for the future of health policy setting the British situation in an international context. 'It is hard to find a better basic textbook about health policy in Britain for students with little existing knowledge. However, it can also be highly recommended for readers who work in the NHS, but want to make more sense of the often confusing web of policies and imperatives. This book manages to synthesise a mass of material in a readable form, and enlightens as well as informs.' Public Health.

Systematically updated throughout, the fifth edition of this leading text provides an up-to-date and comprehensive account of health policy in the UK. The book describes and analyses the organization and politics of the NHS, and examines both in light of Labour government policy since 1997.

′This is an excellent textbook for which there is currently a niche in the market. The chapters on rationing, professionalism, politics of clinical knowledge and the politics of democracy and participation are particularly strong and will be invaluable to students of health policy, health studies and health service research′ - Professor Michael Calnan, University of Bristol Written by leading academics in their field, this book provides a clear and considered overview of the politics of health care in Britain. Bringing together a wide range of material on both past events and recent developments, the chapters cover issues such as the politics of health professionalism, clinical knowledge and organisation and management. Each chapter offers a a unique combination of theory, historical detail and analysis of contemporary events. It features case studies to illustrate how policy has evolved and developed in recent years, and the implications these changes have for practice. Written in an accessible style the chapters also include comprehensive introductions, summaries and further reading sections. The final chapter is based on three detailed case studies that illuminate the tensions and debates discussed throughout the book. The Politics of Healthcare in Britain is a timely and authoritative textbook that covers a key topic of the curriculum whilst also contributing to topical debates. The book will be essential reading for students of social policy, health policy, public policy and nursing. It will also be of interest to policy makers and practitioners in the field of health care.

Was Western medicine a positive benefit of colonialism or one of its agents of oppression? This question has prompted a vigorous historical and political debate and is explored here in the context of the 'model' British colony of Ceylon. In this study, Margaret Jones emphasises the need for both a broad perspective and a more complex analysis. Colonial medicine is critiqued not merelyu in the political and economic context of imperialism but also against the background of human needs and rights. Her research is underscored by a detailed analysis of public health measures and services in Ceylon. One of its key findings is the accommodation achieved between Western and indigenous medicine. Throughout this work, Jones provides nuanced readings of the categories of colonised and coloniser, as well as the concept of colonial medicine. Health Policy in Britain's Model Colony provides an understanding of historical trends while simultaneously avoiding generalisations that subsume events and actions. Written in a compelling and lucid style, it is a path-breaking contribution to the history of medicine.

Public health policies had a profound impact on urban life in the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, yet relatively few people took an active interest in the formulation of these policies. In this book Marjaana Niemi examines the impact of different political aims and pressures on 'scientific' health policies through the analysis of public health programmes in two case studies, one in Birmingham and the other in Gothenburg. By examining early twentieth-century campaigns concerned with infant welfare and the prevention of tuberculosis, the book provides illuminating insights into the relationship between public health and the regulation of urban life. Not only does the book analyse the processes whereby different political aims became embedded in these 'apolitical' health campaigns, but it also highlights the important part that the campaigns played in urban politics and governance. The political aims which public health campaigns advanced are explored by comparing health policies in Britain and Sweden, where officials were part of one public health community, enjoying close links, attending the same conferences and contributing to the same journals. The problems they dealt with were often similar and in both countries health authorities claimed scientific grounds for their programmes. Yet the policies they pursued were often strikingly different. Through examination of two different national approaches, the book does justice to the full complexity of the policy-making process and illuminates the wide range of factors that affected municipal policies.

This new edition of Baggott's engaging and clearly written text provides students with an up-to-date and concise introduction to all aspects of health care in Britain today. It has been extensively rewritten to take account of the many recent changes and developments in the NHS and in health policy. Including clear explanations of concepts like clinical governance and evidence-based health care, it also covers political changes such as the health policies of the Blair administration and the increasing diversity of the NHS as a result of devolution.

This textbook provides a critical assessment of developments in health and healthcare policy within the UK and Europe. Each chapter integrates conceptual themes drawn from the fields of sociology and political science to offer a unique combination of theory, historical detail and wider social commentary. The book is divided into four sections: - Section One establishes a theoretical basis for the analysis of contemporary health policy. - Section Two examines the key constituents of health care ′systems′, which includes a comparative analysis of EU member states. - Section Three focuses on contemporary health care policy and provision in the UK. - Section Four assesses the increasingly limited ability of national governments to reduce threats to the health of their populations. Written in an accessible style, the student-friendly approach highlights key concepts and includes introductions, summaries and examples of further reading. Each chapter also includes case studies and activities which encourage the reader to think about the planning, implementation and assessment of specific healthcare policies. This is a timely and authoritative textbook that covers a key topic of the curriculum while also contributing to topical debates. The book will be essential reading for healthcare and social science students taking modules in health policy, and will also be of interest to policy makers and practitioners in the field of healthcare.