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Devolution and health policy: A map of divergence within the NHS - 1st annual update
April 2007
Recommendations
A number of recommendations suggest themselves from this overview of devolution.
- The devolved nations are evolving their own ways of taking forward health policy to meet the needs of the population they serve. An annual analysis of the extent to which each nation moves away from current health policy will provide a strategic overview of health policy in the devolved nations over time.
- In Council discussions, the non-English perspective on health policy enters every debate. But it is rarely possible to address it directly. Following an annual report, it would be helpful for Council to devote a session to discussing devolution explicitly.
- Future reports should set out in detail the guidance, policies and laws that are different in each country, in relation to pensions, law, ethics, employment law and economic incentives.
- Concentrate on common issues but recognise difference at the national level.
- A strategic forum for the Association to consider and contrast the political context, varying policies, tactics and negotiations across the UK may be needed.
- Future iterations of the report to include analysis of the policy implications on the work of the BMA, other trade unions and stakeholder organisations.