Life after the White Paper

Abstract

This paper reviews the contents of the White Paper — the NHS Review, ‘Working for Patients’ published in January 1989’ — and the initial reactions to it. It is easy to fault the White Paper for its unevenness and incompleteness. On the other hand, just because it leaves so many loose‐ends and is non‐prescriptive in detail, there is scope to fashion what happens next in an experimental, evolutionary way. The author seeks to move the debate on from analysis of the document's strengths and weaknesses to consideration of what those who care about the British National Health Service can do to shape the future that the White Paper has begun to create.

Citation

Maxwell, R.J. (1989), "Life after the White Paper", Journal of Management in Medicine, Vol. 4 No. 1, pp. 6-9. https://doi.org/10.1108/eb060519