The NHS has no memory but the labour movement does, although it is sometimes patchy. A conference convened by the Institute of Public Policy Research and the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine on May 9th illustrated how long-standing the issues now being debated around regional devolution of the NHS really are. Discomfort with devolution of powers is hard-wired into the NHS. Commitment to funding the NHS from general taxation inevitably leads to Parliamentary accountability, without the word ‘centralisation’ being used. Likewise, concern at inequities encourages central control to iron out variations in care. Whilst politicians of all parties […]
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