Organizational Form as a Mechanism to Involve Staff, Public and Users in Public Services: A Study of the Governance of NHS Foundation Trusts

Allen, P; Townsend, J; Dempster, P; Wright, J; Hutchings, A; Keen, J

Organizational Form as a Mechanism to Involve Staff, Public and Users in Public Services: A Study of the Governance of NHS Foundation Trusts

Allen, P Townsend, J Dempster, P Wright, J Hutchings, A Keen, J

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Publication Type:: Journal Article
Citation:: Social Policy and Administration, 2012, 46 (3), pp. 239 - 257
Issue Date:: 2012-06-01

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Field	Value	Language
dc.contributor.author	Allen, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Townsend, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Dempster, P	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Wright, J	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Hutchings, A	en_US
dc.contributor.author	Keen, J	en_US
dc.date.issued	2012-06-01	en_US
dc.identifier.citation	Social Policy and Administration, 2012, 46 (3), pp. 239 - 257	en_US
dc.identifier.issn	0144-5596	en_US
dc.identifier.uri	http://hdl.handle.net/10453/115416
dc.description.abstract	In addition to introducing markets and market-like structures into public services, New Labour wished to promote the involvement of users and the public in decision-making in other ways than as individual consumers. One way was to involve the public in the governance of organizations. This could be done by removing public services from state control, and transferring them to mutual ownership; or by increasing public involvement in the governance of public bodies. NHS foundation trusts (FTs) were presented as mutuals. Our study shows FTs are not mutuals, as they continue to be owned by the state. Moreover, staff of FTs were generally not engaging with the new governance structures. In general, there was mixed experience of the new structures enabling governors to increase accountability of the hospitals to the public. On the other hand, having a membership did enhance the legitimacy of FTs, as opposed to other NHS organizations. The findings of the study are of current interest as the coalition government is continuing with the policy of FTs, and also encouraging mutuals and other forms of public involvement. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.	en_US
dc.relation.ispartof	Social Policy and Administration	en_US
dc.relation.isbasedon	10.1111/j.1467-9515.2011.00820.x	en_US
dc.subject.classification	Political Science & Public Administration	en_US
dc.title	Organizational Form as a Mechanism to Involve Staff, Public and Users in Public Services: A Study of the Governance of NHS Foundation Trusts	en_US
dc.type	Journal Article
utslib.citation.volume	3	en_US
utslib.citation.volume	46	en_US
utslib.for	1605 Policy and Administration	en_US
utslib.for	1606 Political Science	en_US
utslib.for	1608 Sociology	en_US
pubs.embargo.period	Not known	en_US
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/DVC (Research)/lnstitute for Public Policy and Governance
pubs.organisational-group	/University of Technology Sydney/Strength - IPPG - Institute for Public Policy and Governance
utslib.copyright.status	closed_access
pubs.issue	3	en_US
pubs.publication-status	Published	en_US
pubs.volume	46	en_US

Abstract:

In addition to introducing markets and market-like structures into public services, New Labour wished to promote the involvement of users and the public in decision-making in other ways than as individual consumers. One way was to involve the public in the governance of organizations. This could be done by removing public services from state control, and transferring them to mutual ownership; or by increasing public involvement in the governance of public bodies. NHS foundation trusts (FTs) were presented as mutuals. Our study shows FTs are not mutuals, as they continue to be owned by the state. Moreover, staff of FTs were generally not engaging with the new governance structures. In general, there was mixed experience of the new structures enabling governors to increase accountability of the hospitals to the public. On the other hand, having a membership did enhance the legitimacy of FTs, as opposed to other NHS organizations. The findings of the study are of current interest as the coalition government is continuing with the policy of FTs, and also encouraging mutuals and other forms of public involvement. © 2011 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.

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http://hdl.handle.net/10453/115416