Getting Politics out of Health?: Ministers, Managers and the Market

Abstract

It has from time to time been argued that health should be taken out of politics. In recent years this view has persisted, most notably in ministerial statements, as the government has pursued policies which appear to have the potential to remove the NHS from the political arena. Meanwhile, the political profile of health issues has continued to rise. This article explores the meaning of depoliticisation in relation to healthcare, and assesses the political implications of the Conservative government's reforms. The article notes that depoliticisation can be interpreted in a variety of ways in relation to health care. It argues that the potential of policies to remove health care from the political arena has not as yet been realised, and is unlikely to be realised in the foreseeable future. It also argues that there should be more, not less, public debate about the future of health care in Britain, and, in this sense at least, health should not be taken out of politics.