Understanding the N.H.S.

The NHS is a vast and complex institution, never out of the public eye and now the focus of major political argument. Peter West examines the way the NHS works and the incentives that motivate everyone concerned - the general public, health professionals, and the government. There are too many perverse incentives in the NHS - for instance, the fact that hospitals which treat more patients receive no additional cash and risk overspending. The book's final chapter proposes a new structure, with different incentives, which would make the NHS more flexible and responsive to its users. Any extra costs of the new system would arguably be worth bearing, if they result in a better service. The author has been involved with the health service for 17 years, and his book is an honest look at what makes it tick.