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New Labour's PPI Reforms: Patient and Public Involvement in Healthcare Governance?
Author(s) -
VincentJones Peter,
Hughes David,
Mullen Caroline
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
the modern law review
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.37
H-Index - 22
eISSN - 1468-2230
pISSN - 0026-7961
DOI - 10.1111/j.1468-2230.2009.00742.x
Subject(s) - corporate governance , politics , government (linguistics) , health care , democracy , modernization theory , public administration , political science , health care reform , public health , public opinion , political economy , public relations , business , health policy , sociology , medicine , nursing , law , linguistics , philosophy , finance
Following a first wave of reform at the beginning of the decade, the system of patient and public involvement in healthcare governance is being further overhauled under the Local Government and Public Involvement in Health Act 2007 and the Health and Social Care Act 2008. The current reforms reflect a significant shift in dominant political discourse from an earlier concern with patient and public involvement towards a more exclusive focus on consumer choice and economic regulation, with collective voice and citizen participation at best playing a subordinate part in the government's NHS modernisation agenda. While there is some potential for increased responsiveness in the new arrangements, the overall effect is likely to be a weakening of the foundations of democratic decision making in the governance of healthcare in England.