ABSTRACT
This chapter describes actions and attitudes of medical professionals in the context of health reforms, where responses were not uniform and, in many cases, appeared to be at odds with the pursuit of ‘self-interest’. It provides a more nuanced approach and one which avoids privileging structure or agency in explanations of social practices in the public sphere. The chapter also provides several qualitative case studies from the National Health Service in England to explore responses to healthcare reform in a way which illuminates the importance of nuance and understanding situated agency in explaining policy outcomes. Pierre Bourdieu’s theory of practice attempts to apply a framework which takes account of both social structures and human agency. All social action takes place within a field, which is a space of social relations. Amongst hospital doctors, responses to the tariffs initiative varied. Some engage in creative and adaptive work to capitalise on opportunities created by the tariffs.
