Divergence and devolution

This report is part of the Nuffield Trust's programme of work on the changing role of the state and the machinery of government for health and health care policy.

Scott Greer examines the four UK health care systems and finds evidence of significant divergence of policies and priorities despite the primary-care led, market-orientated English model being New Labour’s goal for them all.

The author asks what the NHS would look like if a single organisational structure and set of priorities were allowed to bed down and become institutionalised and notes that for decades NHS staffers have complained that they could do a good job running the service if they were freed of constant reorganisation.