Cited by 215Health Services Management and PolicyHealthcare Systems and ChallengesHealthcare Systems and Practices

New Labour, modernisation and the medical labour process

HARRISON, STEPHEN·2002·Journal of Social Policy

Abstract

The label ‘modernisation’, originally coined to signify reform within the Labour Party, has since 1997 increasingly been used as a descriptor of various facets of public policy. This paper addresses three questions, all in the context of health policy. What (if anything) is the impact of the notion of modernisation on NHS medical labour process, what is its substantive content, and how might we explain its rise to prominence? On the first question, I suggest that a model of medicine (which I term ‘scientific-bureaucratic medicine’) is being developed that embodies many of the specific characteristics of Fordist labour processes. On the second question, I suggest that ‘modernisation’ denotes a philosophy towards the governance of the NHS which entails the distinctive characteristics of the project which social theorists have termed ‘modernity’. The third question has particular significance in a social context (variously termed ‘late modernity’ or ‘postmodernity’) generally thought of as characterised by trends towards postFordist labour processes. I tentatively suggest that scientific-bureaucratic medicine can be viewed as the state's (not necessarily successful) strategy for coping with radical consumerism and changing perceptions of risk and expertise in the context of health and medicine.

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Crossref · 10.1017/s0047279402006694

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Authors
HARRISON, S.
Affiliations
University of Manchester (GB)
Corresponding author
HARRISON, STEPHEN
Venue
Journal of Social Policy
Published
2002-07
Volume
31
Issue
3
Pages
465-485
ISSN
  • 0047-2794 (ISSN-L)
  • 1469-7823
OpenAlex
W2170017965
Cited by
214
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 2 · 2025: 1 · 2024: 3 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 5 · 2020: 3 · 2019: 21 · 2018: 5 · 2017: 10 · 2016: 4 · 2015: 7 · 2014: 13 · 2013: 5 · 2012: 9
FWCI
16.42
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • Journal of Social Policy (publishedVersion)
  • Research Explorer (The University of Manchester) (publishedVersion)
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Health Services Management and Policy
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare Systems and Challenges
  • Health Sciences › Health Professions › General Health Professions › Healthcare Systems and Practices
Keywords
New Labour, modernization, National Health Service, Fordism, post-Fordism, late modernity, postmodernity, health policy, consumerism, medical professionalism

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