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Health policy in the UK

In: Research Handbook on Health Care Policy

Author

Listed:
  • Alec Fraser
  • Nicholas Mays

Abstract

This chapter analyses the main political, institutional, economic, and organisational factors that contribute to an understanding of UK health policy development, drawing on illustrative examples. The chapter explores the strengths of UK health policymaking as well as its structural weaknesses - the latter, in particular, in relation to social care (the British term for long term care) which remains particularly problematic. The chapter emphasises the enduring emotional attachment that the British people have had to the National Health Service (NHS) since its inception in 1948. Notwithstanding this overall popular support for the NHS and what it symbolises, the NHS, at least as much if not more than wider health policy, is, and has been, politically contested and subject to regular reform. This is attributed to the fact that the executive is extremely powerful in the UK making it relatively easy for governments to reorganise NHS structures and bodies.

Suggested Citation

  • Alec Fraser & Nicholas Mays, 2024. "Health policy in the UK," Chapters, in: Martin Powell & Tuba I. Agartan & Daniel Béland (ed.), Research Handbook on Health Care Policy, chapter 27, pages 497-552, Edward Elgar Publishing.
    • Handle: RePEc:elg:eechap:20769_27
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    File URL: https://www.elgaronline.com/doi/10.4337/9781800887565.00031
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