Synopses & Reviews
This book challenges existing stereotypes about the 'consumer as chooser'. It shows how we must develop a more sophisticated understanding of consumers, examining their place and role as users of public services. The analysis shows that there are many different 'faces' of the consumer and that it is not easy to categorise users in particular environments.Drawing on empirical research, "The consumer in public services" critiques established assumptions surrounding citizenship and consumption. Choice may grab the policy headlines but other essential values are revealed as important throughout the book. One issue concerns the 'subjects' of consumerism, or who it is that presents themselves when they come to use public services. Another concerns consumer 'mechanisms', or the ways that public services try to relate to these people. Bringing these issues together for the first time, with cutting-edge contributions from a range of leading researchers, the message is that today's public services must learn to cope with a differentiated public.This book will be of interest to scholars and students in the fields of social policy and public administration. It will also appeal to policy-makers leading 'user-focused' public service reforms, as well as those responsible for implementing such reforms at the frontline of modern public services.
Review
Drawing on cutting edge research, this book brings together an impressive list of contributors to unpack a deceptively simple idea. A must for anyone interested in the future of public services. Marilyn Taylor, Professor of Urban Governance and Regeneration, University of the West of England
Review
This impressive collection of case studies documenting many of the key developments in UK health policy over recent decades has been compiled by a distinguished group of analysts. It is to be greatly welcomed for the fascinating insights it provides. David Hunter, Professor of Health Policy and Management, Durham University
Review
This book presents an impressive collection of case studies that shed light on health policy processes and issues. Written by expert contributors from the field, it will be particularly useful to students and lecturers in health policy. Rob Baggott, De Montfort University
Synopsis
NHS reform continues to be a topical yet contentious issue in the UK. Reforming healthcare: What's the evidence? is the first major critical overview of the research published on healthcare reform in England from 1990 onwards by a team of leading UK health policy academics. It explores work considering the Conservative internal market of the 1990s and New Labour's healthcare reorganizations, including its attempts at performance management and the reintroduction of market-based reform from 2004 to 2010. It then considers the implications of this research for current debates about healthcare reorganization in England, and internationally. As the most up-to-date summary of what research says works in English healthcare reform, this essential review is aimed at anyone interested in the wide-ranging debates about health reorganization, but especially students and academics interested in social policy, public management and health policy.
Synopsis
Reforming healthcare: What's the evidence? is the first major critical overview of the research published on healthcare reform in England from 1990 onwards by a team of leading UK health policy academics.
Synopsis
National Health Service reform continues to be a contentious issue in the UK. Reforming Healthcare offers the first major critical overview of health care reform research in England. Analyzing research from 1990 on, a team of leading UK health-policy academics consider the implications of this research for current debates about health care reorganization both in England and internationally. As the most up-to-date summary of what research reveals as successful in English health care reform, this essential review is aimed at anyone interested in the wide-ranging debates about health reorganization.
Synopsis
The consumer in public services critiques established assumptions surrounding citizenship and consumption. Drawing on empirical research, it challenges existing stereotypes about the 'consumer as chooser' and shows how we must develop a more sophisticated understanding of consumers, examining their place and role as users of public services.
Synopsis
This collection examines the role that case-studies play in understanding and explaining British health policy.
About the Author
Ian Greener is professor of applied social sciences at Durham University.Barbara Harrington is a senior research associate at the Centre for Public Policy at Northumbria University.David Hunter is director and professor of Health Policy and Management at Durham University. Russell Mannion holds the chair in Health Systems at the University of Birmingham.Martin Powell is professor of health and social policy at the University of Birmingham.
Table of Contents
Introduction: Managing the 'unmanageable consumer' ~ Martin Powell, Shane Doheny, Ian Greener and Nick Mills
Part one: The 'new politics' of public service consumption: New Labour and public service consumers ~ Eric Shaw
Narratives of public service delivery in the UK: comparing central and local government ~ Catherine Needham
Part two: Defining the consumer in public services: Differentiating consumers in professionalised services ~ Angus Laing, Gill Hogg and Terry Newholm
The differentiated consumer in public services: user perspectives ~ Richard Simmons
Part three: The public service consumer in context: The consumer in health services ~ Martin Powell and Ian Greener
The consumer in education ~ Catherine Farrell
The consumer in housing ~ Nick Mills
Awkward customers? Policing in a consumer age ~ John Clarke, Janet Newman and Louise Westmarland
Part four: The future: visions of the consumer: Authoritative consumers or experts by experience? User groups in health and social care ~ Marian Barnes
Differentiated consumers? A differentiated view from a service user perspective ~ Peter Beresford
The public service consumer as 'member' ~ Johnston Birchall and Richard Simmons
Conclusions ~ Richard Simmons and Martin Powell