New Sociology of the Health Service

Royal Holloway, University of London, UK Royal Holloway, University of London, UK University of Kent, UK

'This impressive book provides a valuable commentary on key topics in the contemporary sociology of health care. Students of health care sociology and health policy will find it an accessible and useful text.' - Professor Rob Baggott, De Montfort University, UK‘In this hugely welcome second edition, leading sociologists offer far-reaching insights into the often contested changes in UK health policy over the past decade. A sociological perspective on contemporary policy developments, notably the growing managerialisation and marketisation of health care, the impact of consumerism on health and social care, and the growing health gap between social groups, has been sorely missing. This excellent collection of essays is therefore timely and essential reading by students of health policy.’ - David J. Hunter, Professor of Health Policy and Management, Wolfson Research Institute, Durham University, UK

• 1. Remaking a Trustworthy Medical Profession in Twenty-first Century Britain? 2. Changing Forms of Managerialism in the NHS: Hierarchies, Markets and Networks 3. The Restratification of Primary Care in England? A Sociological Analysis 4. Visions of Privatization: New Labour and the Reconstruction of the NHS 5. The Pharmaceutical Industry, the State and the NHS 6. Evidence-based Practice in UK Health Policy 7. Innovation and Implementation in Health Technology 8. Health Care, Consumerism and the Politics of Identity 9. Mainstream Marginality: `Non-orthodox’ Medicine in an `Orthodox’ Health Service 10. Social Care: Relationships, Markets and Ethics 11. Equalizing the People’s Health: a Sociological Perspective