The New National Health Service: A Case of Postmodernism?

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Abstract
The National Health Service in Britain has recently undergone a major re organization. It has moved away from being a planned system of health care delivery to a demand driven system organized on the principles of (quasi-) market competition and quality assurance. These changes are intended by gov ernment to 'empower' the consumer (patient) with real choice and to incorpor ate the health professionals within a more effective and efficient system of hospital management. It is in this context that the paper examines the use fulness of 'postmodernity' as an explanation for the emergence of new 'flex ible' organizational forms within the hospital service. The paper will concen trate on the ideological and organizational contradictions between state policy and local practice, especially in relation to issues of managerial vs professional autonomy and control.