Ideas abound, but robust evidence from health care services research is still scarce
In 2000, 3 years after the election of the Labour Government in Britain, the then Prime Minister, Tony Blair, launched an ambitious reform program for the National Health Service (NHS), which would make it “the healthcare system the world most envies.” The reform was underpinned by the largest ever investment in the NHS, with spending increasing from £23.7 billion in the 2000–01 financial year to £90.2 billion in 2007–08.1
The full article is accessible to AMA members and paid subscribers. Login to read more or purchase a subscription now.
Please note: institutional and Research4Life access to the MJA is now provided through Wiley Online Library.
- Medical Journal of Australia, Sydney, NSW.
- 1. Beecham L. Tony Blair launches radical NHS plan for England. BMJ 2000; 321: 317.
- 2. Kmietowicz Z. NHS reforms have produced “only limited benefits so far”. BMJ 2008; 336: 1327.
- 3. Kilham R. Budget overview 2008. Health budget at a glance. Aust Med 2008; 20: 7-10.
- 4. Rudd K. Address to heads of agencies and members of the senior executive services, Great Hall, Parliament House, Canberra, 30 April 2008. http://www.pm.gov.au/media/Speech/2008/speech_0226.cfm (accessed Jun 2008).
- 5. Mooney GH. The people principle in Australian health care. Med J Aust 2008; 189: 171-172. <MJA full text>
- 6. Menadue J. What is the health service for? Med J Aust 2008; 189: 170-171. <MJA full text>
- 7. National Health and Medical Research Council. NHMRC funding datasets. Total commitments for new grants by broad research areas 2000–2007 [Excel document. Worksheet 5]. Canberra: NHMRC, 2007. http://www.nhmrc.gov.au/grants/dataset/_files/trend_data.xls (accessed Jul 2008)
- 8. Grant J (Chairman). Sustaining the virtuous cycle for a healthy, competitive Australia. Investment review of health and medical research. Canberra: Australian Government Department of Health and Ageing, 2004: 39-51.
- 9. National Health and Hospitals Reform Commission. Beyond the blame game: accountability and performance benchmarks for the next Australian Health Care Agreements. Canberra: NHHRC, 2008. http://www.nhhrc.org.au/internet/nhhrc/publishing.nsf/Content/commission-1lp (accessed Jun 2008).