ABSTRACT

This chapter looks at some of the issues raised by this shifting picture of group dynamics within health care. The public health care system is huge and complex. In addition to its three basic divisions, it is made up of hundreds of smaller organizations, and it is home to major groupings of players. The larger the organization, and the more varied its functions, the more true is the pluralist model. In the case of health care, the undertaking is so huge that it is questionable whether it should be seen as a single organization. Doctors rely on nursing staff to keep the machinery running smoothly. The introduction of general management created a range of possible relationships between managers and clinicians. The system of public health care established in 1948 continues to enjoy widespread public approval. The National Health Service continues to rest upon deep public support, and the medical profession is still highly esteemed.