The Changing Role of the Regional Tier of the NHS

Journal article

This study reviews the past role of regional health authorities in the British NHS and gives details of the recent changes to regions associated with the functions and responsibilities paper. It goes on to give details of the research project in which we are currently involved and reports on our interim findings (as of April 1996). In a final discussion section, it reflects on those findings in terms of the evolving problems of influence and control in a national service operating in a devolved quasi-market. The choice in the regional role is potentially beneficial because in a major change, where there are many unknowns, it gives an opportunity to learn from diverse experience about what works well, for already there are examples of an initiative by one or two regions being copied by the remainder and of a region being asked to take a national lead in a particular area.

Authors: Dopson, S; Stewart, R

• Publication date: 1997-01-01