ABSTRACT
New Labour's political and policy stances on health have derived from the 'managerialism' and 'market' approaches which they have absorbed from the new style of civil servant and senior National Health Service (NHS) executives with an entree to power. In New Labour's early years, Ministers sought to avoid structural reorganisation yet to create a new culture for the NHS, by abolishing the internal market and what Health Secretary Frank Dobson saw as the excessive influence of the business culture. In 1997, New Labour wished to abolish GP fund-holding yet retain 'primary care' commissioning. Primary Care Trusts (PCTs) are generally seen by health policy researchers in terms of whether or not they are effective in commissioning and providing services for their populations. The creation of statutory Boards for the PCTs – necessary to govern their new pivotal role – actually marginalised doctors by relegating them from the main Board to Professional Executive Com.
