Two of us, an OR researcher and a cancer patient, have prepared a paper on
the NHS in England and Wales. This deals with overall policy from an
operational research point of view, particularly funding issues (PPP & PFI)
and accountability in decision making and proposes proper collaboration
between decision makers, patients and health workers.
Could anyone advise on a publication that has a suitable readership and an
efficient prompt editorial response?
Some journals that appear to be suitable are:
Health Policy and Planning, OUP
Journal of Public Health Medicine, OUP
Health Affairs (Project Hope?)
Social Policy & Administration, Blackwell
Health Policy, Elsevier
Social Science and Medicine, Pergamon-Elsevier Science Oxford
Public Administration, Blackwell
Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier Science
International Journal of medical Informatics, Elsevier Science
Policy and Politics Bristol
International Journal of technical Assessment in Health Care
Are HEN members familiar with these journals?
A synopsis is as follows:
Sections
1. Soft systems and the NHS as a multi-organisation, a term coined by
Stringer 1967. Soft-systems analysis spelled out for the NHS. Rich picture
and discussion, quoting from DoH aims.
2. Government role, problems for democratic regulation, need for OR
clarification for liaison and shared control, inherited funding deficits and
the paradoxical role of private finance and the public-private concordat.
Discussion on staff resources, prescribing, performance monitoring and PAF.
Contrast with Stringer’s advice.
3. Professionals in the NHS keeping it working. ‘Socio-technical’ methods,
large information systems, large projects and why some fail.
4. Patients’ needs and involvement, using prostate cancer patients as an
example group. How representation of patients can be effective, access to
information, relationships with professionals, communications, special needs
in out-patient care.
5. Evaluation of recent changes, and recommendations. Doubt cast on whether
a true consensus between NHS leadership, professionals and patients has been
achieved. The possibility of such consensus is further inhibited by the
management structures of Care Trusts. In general lack of accountability in
decision making processes inhibits progress.
6. The conclusion refers back to 1960’s OR advice on effective management of
multi-organisations, in particular the need for transparency and commitment.
Janet Shapiro
University of North London
[log in to unmask]
|