New development: Spin-outs and social enterprise: the ‘right to request’ programme for health and social care services

Abstract

The ‘right to request’ policy encouraged and supported National Health Service (NHS) community health staff in England to ‘spin out’ services into independent social enterprises. This article considers the processes and outputs of the initiative and reflects on the likelihood of positive outcomes for patients being achieved. It highlights lessons for future programmes seeking to transfer services out of public ownership.

Keywords:

• English NHS
• right to request
• social enterprise
• spin-outs

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Robin Miller

Robin Miller is Senior Fellow in the Health Services Management Centre/ Third Sector Research Centre (TSRC), University of Birmingham, UK.

Ross Millar

Ross Millar is a research fellow in the Health Services Management Centre, University of Birmingham, UK.

Kelly Hall

Kelly Hall is a senior lecturer, University of Northampton, UK and an honorary fellow for the TSRC.