Resources and Innovation in Health Care

Publisher: Policy Press

ISSN: 0305-5736

Source: Policy and Politics, Vol.14, Iss.4, 1986-10, pp. : 461-474

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Abstract

The paper discusses the impact of financial retrenchment on health care management, focussing on the experience of the National Health Service (NHS). It begins with a description of the changing financial climate from the mid 1970s onwards. This provides the context for an examination of the usefulness of recent British work on budgetary behaviour in public authorities, in particular, whether there has been a move towards a 'rational' model of budgeting. The paper focusses on budgetary policies rather than processes of review and decision making. The NHS experience supports the view that limited and predictable changes in financial circumstances are conducive to more rational-technocratic budgetary policies.