The DOI matches its Crossref record.
New Labour, Modernisation and the Medical Labour Process
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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“In this sense, the QOF was strongly aligned with the new managerialism being introduced by the New Labour government in the early 2000sa policy of 'transparency' (i.e. the collection and public release of performance data) and close monitoring of this performance towards nationally set targets.”
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A rede de ensino, pesquisa e atenção de Porto Alegre/RS
Martino, V. N., Schneider, F., & Warmling, C. M. (2023) · Pimenta Cultural eBooks · doi:10.31560/pimentacultural/2023.97686.2
do Nascimento, C. F., Pires, F. S., & Warmling, C. M. (2023) · Pimenta Cultural eBooks · doi:10.31560/pimentacultural/2023.97686.7
Arnold‐Forster, A. (2023) · Manchester University Press eBooks · doi:10.7765/9781526156648.00012
Arnold-Forster, A. (2023) · Manchester University Press eBooks · doi:10.7765/9781526156648.00015
Wears, R. L., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190271268.002.0010
Wears, R. L., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190271268.002.0007
Wears, R. L., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190271268.002.0009
Wears, R. L., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190271268.002.0005
Wears, R. L., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190271268.002.0003
Wears, R. L., & Sutcliffe, K. M. (2019) · Oxford University Press eBooks · doi:10.1093/oso/9780190271268.002.0008
Shygun, M., Гуцаленко, Л. В., & Marchuk, U. (2024) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-83797-442-920241012
Strengthening HIV Activism Among Clinicians in Malaysia: A Randomised Controlled Trial
Chong, N., Azwa, I., Hassan, A. A., Mousavi, M., Wong, P. L., Ng, R. X., Saifi, R. A., Basri, S., Omar, S. F. S., Walters, S. M., et al. (2025) · AIDS and Behavior · doi:10.1007/s10461-025-04829-1
Financial Management in the UK Public Sector
Chow, D. S. L., Humphrey, C., & Miller, P. (2005) · Emerald Group Publishing Limited eBooks · doi:10.1108/978-1-60752-771-820251012
The Risk Problem in Maternity Care from 2006 to Now
Symon, A., & Scamell, M. (2026) · Critical studies in risk and uncertainty · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-02731-3_2
Introducing Risk and Uncertainty in Maternity Care
a, M. S., Vries, R. G. D., & Coxon, K. (2026) · Critical studies in risk and uncertainty · doi:10.1007/978-3-032-02731-3_1
Metadata
- Authors
- HARRISON, S.
- Affiliations
- University of Manchester (GB)
- Corresponding author
- HARRISON, STEPHEN
- ORCID
- HARRISON, STEPHEN
- Venue
- Journal of Social Policy
- Publisher
- Cambridge University Press (CUP)
- 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 › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › 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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