In recent years the pace of reform in health policy and the NHS has been relentless. But how are policies formed and implemented? This fully updated edition of a bestselling book explores the processes and institutions that make health policy, examining what constitutes health policy, where power lies, and what changes could be made to improve the quality of health policy making. Drawing on original research by the author over many years, and a wide range of secondary sources, the book examines the role of various institutions in the formation and implementation of health policy. Unlike most standard texts, it considers the impact of devolution in the UK and the role of European and international institutions and fills a need for an up-to-date overview of this fast-moving area. It features new case studies to illustrate how policy has evolved and developed in recent years. This new edition has been fully updated to reflect policies under the later years of New Labour and the Coalition government. Although written particularly with the needs of students and tutors in mind, this accessible textbook will also appeal to policy makers and practitioners in the health policy field.

In recent years the pace of reform in health policy and the NHS has been relentless. But how are policies formed and implemented? This fully updated edition of a bestselling book explores the processes and institutions that make health policy, examining what constitutes health policy, where power lies, and what changes could be made to improve the quality of health policy making. Drawing on original research by the author over many years, and a wide range of secondary sources, the book examines the role of various institutions in the formation and implementation of health policy. Unlike most standard texts, it considers the impact of devolution in the UK and the role of European and international institutions and fills a need for an up-to-date overview of this fast-moving area. It features new case studies to illustrate how policy has evolved and developed in recent years. This new edition has been fully updated to reflect policies under the later years of New Labour and the Coalition government. Although written particularly with the needs of students and tutors in mind, this accessible textbook will also appeal to policy makers and practitioners in the health policy field.

In recent years the pace of reform in health policy and the NHS has been relentless. But how are policies formed and implemented? This exciting new book takes a fresh look at the processes and institutions that make health policy. Based on original research, including a series of in-depth interviews with health policy actors, the book: examines the role of various institutions in the formation and implementation of health policy, including central government departments and agencies, Parliament, political parties, pressure groups, the media, the NHS, and local government bodies; considers the impact of devolution on health policy and the role of European and international organisations; features case studies to illustrate how policy has evolved and developed in recent years. Among the key questions raised in the book are: what constitutes health policy? Where does power lie in health policy-making? What aspects of the health policy process have changed in recent years and what features have remained? And, what changes could be made to improve the quality of health policy-making? As with all the books in the "Understanding Welfare" series, this book has been written particularly with the needs of students in mind. However, it will also be invaluable to policy makers and practitioners in the health policy field.

Incorporating the latest developments from the field, this eagerly awaited new edition once again provides an important and comprehensive analysis of the key issues in public health. Exploring the underlying political context and policy processes, this text is core reading for all those interested in the essentials of this area.