Abstract
The aim of this chapter is to examine the monitoring and evaluation of health policy and the way in which the results of monitoring feed back into policy-making. The chapter begins by tracing the evolution of interest in monitoring and evaluation and it describes the variety of audit arrangements that currently exist. The discussion then moves on to the performance of the NHS in relation to health improvement and access to health care. The chapter concludes by assessing the achievements of the United Kingdom in relation to other countries, offering an overall judgement on the strengths and weaknesses of the NHS model.
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Guide to Further Reading
The Report of the Royal Commission on the NHS (1979) contains a general review of the impact of the NHS. The RAWP report (DHSS, 1976a) describes the method used to allocate resources on an equitable geographical basis, and its implementation and impact are reviewed by Mays and Bevan (1987). The Black Report, Inequalities in Health (1980), brings together information on social class differences in health and the use of health services, and makes proposals for reducing these differences, and more recent evidence is reviewed by Drever and Whitehead (1997). The Acheson Report (1998) focuses on the policy options for addressing health inequalities. The series of inquiries into long-stay hospitals provide powerful evidence of client-group inequalities. Examples are the Ely and Normansfield reports (Ely Report, 1969; Normans-field Report, 1978). Martin (1984) has summarised the reports and has analysed the nature of the problems that exist in this area. Yates (1987 and 1995) has examined waiting lists and the role of private practice. Charlton and Murphy (1997) summarise and discuss the evidence on population health. The reports of the Social Services Committee (1980, 1981) and the DHSS response (1980d) discuss the difficulties of monitoring and evaluating health services. Evidence on comparative health care can be found in OECD (1992; 1994b) and Ham (1997b).
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© 1999 Christopher Ham
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Ham, C. (1999). Monitoring and Evaluating Health Policy. In: Health Policy in Britain. Public Policy and Politics. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-27706-3_9
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-349-27706-3_9
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-76407-7
Online ISBN: 978-1-349-27706-3
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