New Labour and Britain's National Health Service: An Overview of Current Reforms

Abstract

Britain's National Health Service (NHS) has been the subject of unprecedented market reforms, which have failed to solve its problems. The New Labour government elected in 1997 has halted the drive toward the marketization of health care and replaced cost with quality as the central concern of NHS administration and policy. Major changes are occurring in the regulation of professional activity, with profound implications for the medical profession and the health service. The authors discuss these changes and possible future problems for the NHS.