Management of the NHS: The fundamental weakness

Abstract

This Government is fond of emphasising the importance of applying basic economic principles to the management of the public services. But the reality is often quite different. A health economist, who recently resigned his part‐time post as economic consultant to the Northern Ireland Department of Health & Social Services, sets out, in terms applicable to the whole of the UK, the weaknesses in Departmental management and the failure to apply those principles that led to his resignation.