Unlike the managerially oriented reforms that have brought auditing and accounting into such prominence in the UK National Health Service (NHS), and which seem alien to the culture of the caring professions, consumerist reforms may seem to complement moves towards the acceptance of wide definitions of health, and towards increasing patient autonomy. The empowerment favoured by those who support...

national health information network (nhin) is a network in which all health care organizations, government agencies and other health-related organizations are connected to each other to exchange information about health. due to the necessity of a framework for nhin development, in this paper, according to the literature review, a definition for nhin framework was provided, and then the nhin rel...

Introduction This paper summarises a series of interlinked systematic reviews carried out to inform guidance on commissioning cancer services published by the National Health Service (NHS) Executive. These formed the basis of an EVective Health Care bulletin, Vol 4, No 3. Information on the review process, including the specific questions considered, is given in Improving outcomes in lung cance...

In matters of NHS funding, politicians tend to say one thing and health economists another. Governments commit themselves to the Hippocratic ethic that patients should be treated solely on the basis of need. But economic reality has always required us to make hard choices between deserving patients. Today we require a legal dimension to this tension. This article examines the general practition...

This commentary explores some of the issues raised by Gilbert et al. short communication, Morality and Markets in the NHS. The increasing role of market mechanisms and the changing types of healthcare providers together with the use of choice and competition to drive improvements in quality in the National Health Service (NHS), all have important ethical implications. In order for the NHS to co...

To cite: Lorenc A, Robinson N. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care 2015;41:8–12. BACKGROUND Patient and public engagement (PPE) consists of involving, consulting and listening to patients and the public, to make services responsive to patients’ needs and improve clinical outcomes and patient experience. PPE has a central role in the UK National Health Service (NHS), at every level, from planning to ...

Health Improvement, Efficiency, Access to Services, and Treatment (HEAT) in the Scottish National Health Service (NHS) refers to a management system that includes a target to reduce health harms due to alcohol. The Government set NHS Scotland a HEAT target of delivering 149,449 alcohol brief interventions (ABIs) between 2008 and 2011. National guidance was offered on delivery models in a range ...

To cite: Astbury-Ward E. J Fam Plann Reprod Health Care Published Online First: [please include Day Month Year] doi:10.1136/jfprhc2014-101104 BACKGROUND Before the creation of the National Health Service (NHS), the health of the British nation was in a perilous state and hospitals survived on the philanthropy of rich benefactors. Following its introduction on 5 July 1948, the NHS was the bigges...