In pursuit of an improving national health service

Disappointingly little progress was made with poor hospitals being allowed to continue to operate, health authorities denied the freedom to purchase selectively and every minor change became a major political issue.

Today, some 15 years later, quality related information in the NHS remains virtually non-existent, and fear of political cross-fire continues to frustrate much need progress in developing a model for the NHS which would allow it to succeed in the 21st century. Professor Enthoven recommends re-inventing the internal market in a way which allows the NHS to achieve modernisation through consumer choice, competition and substantially more resources and lists the key elements necessary to ensure the success of a new model.