The introduction to health policy and the links with nursing leadership in the United Kingdom provide the context for this article. This is followed by a few points about nursing demographics and an outline of nursing education in the United Kingdom. The latter is important because contrary to the United States, only a minority of registered nurses in the United Kingdom are university graduates. Explanations of the National Health Service concept in the United Kingdom and the National and European environmental context follow. The health policy reforms are divided into those between 1990 and 1996 and those that emerged with the change of government in 1997. The exploration of a few recent health trends highlights the interplay of nursing policy and clinical leadership. Throughout the article, points are raised about the links between health policy and nursing leadership.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Birt, C. (2000). Public health at European level: A new challenge for nurses. In D. Hennessy & P. Spurgeon (Eds.), Health and nursing policy. (pp. 85-87). Basingstoke: Macmillan.
2.
Degeling, P. , Kennedy, J., Hill, P., Carnegie, M., & Holt, J. (1998). Professional sub-cultures and hospital reform. Sydney, Australia: The University of New South Wales, The Centre for Hospital Management and Information Systems Research.
3.
Department of Health . (1989). Working for patients. London: HMSO.
4.
Department of Health . (1991). Patients charter. London: HMSO.
5.
Department of Health . (1992a). Health of the nation—first steps. London: HMSO.
6.
Department of Health . (1992b). Health of the nation—white paper. London: HMSO.
7.
Department of Health . (1992c). One year on: The nurse director post. London: HMSO.
8.
Department of Health . (1994). Careers of senior nurse. London: HMSO.
9.
Department of Health . (1996a). Choice and opportunity. Primary care: The future (Cm 3390). London: HMSO.
10.
Department of Health . (1996b). Primary care: Delivering the future (Cmn 3512). London: HMSO.
11.
Department of Health . (1997). The new NHS: Modern and dependable. London: HMSO.
12.
Department of Health . (1999a). Making a difference. Strengthening the nursing, midwifery and health visiting contribution to health and health care. London: HMSO.
13.
Department of Health . (1999b). The new NHS act. London: HMSO.
14.
Dobson, F. (1999). Modernising Britain’s health service. Health Affairs, 18(3), 40.
15.
European Commission . (1993). Commission communication on the framework for action in the field of public health (COM [93]559). Brussels, Belgium: Author.
16.
Gough, P. , & Walsh, N. (2000). From profession to commodity: The case for community nursing. In D. Hennessy & P. Spurgeon (Eds.), Health and nursing policy. (pp. 201-215). Basingstoke: MacMillan.
17.
Ham, C. (1994). Management and competition in the new NHS. Oxford, UK: Radcliffe Medical Press.
18.
Harrison, S. , & Pollitt, C. (1994). Controlling health professionals. Buckingham, UK: Open University Press.
19.
Hennessy, D. , & Gilligan, H. (1994). Identifying and developing tomorrow’s Trust nursing directors. Journal of Nursing Management, 2, 37-45.
20.
Hennessy, D. , Ham, C., & Tremblay, M. (1995). Interviews with key stakeholders about the future of the NHS (Report for Health Care 2000). University of Birmingham, Health Services Management Centre.
21.
Hennessy, D. , & Hicks, C. (1998). Evaluating a clinicians in management programme in an acute hospital in Australia. Manuscript in preparation.
22.
Hennessy, D. , Rowland, H., & Buckton, K. (1993). The corporate role of the nursing director. Journal of Nursing Management, 1, 161-170.
23.
Hennessy, D. , & Wall, A. (1996). Information gathered at nurse executive workshops in the Health Services Management Centre. The University of Birmingham.
24.
Kearney, N. , & Redmond, K. (2000). The European Oncology Nursing Society. In D. Hennessy & P. Spurgeon (Eds.), Health and nursing policy. (pp. 119-120). Basingstoke: MacMillan.
25.
Kesby, S. (in press). Return of the cross-roads of opportunity: The conceptual evolution of the family health nurse. Policy, Politics, and Nursing Practice.
26.
Le Grand, J. (1999). Competition, co-operation, or control? Tales from the British National Health Service. Health Affairs, 18(3), 27-39.
27.
Light, D. (1997). From managed competition to managed co-operation: Theory and lessons from the British experience. Millbank Quarterly, 75(3), 297-341.
28.
Lyne, P. (1997). The future of nursing, midwifery and health visiting (Report prepared for the Welsh Office). Cardifi Nursing Research Centre—School of Nursing Studies, University College of Wales.
29.
National Health Service Executive . (1993). Building a stronger team: The nursing contribution to purchasing. Leeds, UK: Department of Health.
30.
Pay and Workforce Research . (1999). Reported in brief. Health Service Journal, 109(5673), 4.
31.
Press Release . (1999, October 10). Appointment of new chief nurse[Online]. Available at www.DOH.Gov.UK
32.
Pursey, A. , & Brocklehurst, N. (1996). Developing the nursing contribution to purchasing. Unpublished manuscript.
33.
Rafferty, A. M. (1993). Leading questions: A discussion paper on the issues of nursing leadership. London: King’s Fund Centre.
34.
Robinson, R. , & Le Grand, J. (Eds.). (1993). Evaluating the NHS reforms. London: Kings Fund.
35.
Spurgeon, P. (2000). Implications of policy development for the nursing profession. In D. Hennessy & P. Spurgeon (Eds.), Health and nursing policy. (pp. 193). Basingstoke: MacMillan.
36.
United Kingdom Central Council for Nurses, Midwives and Health Visitors . (1994). The future of professional practice: The council’s standards for education and practice following registration. London: Author.
37.
Welsh Office . (1989). Strategic intent and direction for NHS Wales. Cardiff, Wales: Author.
38.
Welsh Office . (1999). Realising the potential—a strategy framework for nursing, midwifery and health visiting in Wales into the 21st century. Cardiff, Wales: Author.
39.
World Health Organisation Regional Office of Europe . (1996). European health care reforms: Analysis of current strategies. Copenhagen, Denmark: Author.
40.
Wyn Owen, J. (1998, October). What does success look like: In the NHS[Online]. Available at http://www.NuffieldTrust/
