An analysis of nursing in context: the effects of current health policy

This paper intends to analyse the effects of recent health policy changes in the United Kingdom upon nursing, examining some of the anomalies raised by the rhetoric of the politics and the actualities of the change process and exploring and analysing nursings' presence within that change process. Specific reference will be paid to the philosophy and ideology of the reforms and comparisons made with some of the original factors underpinning the purpose and functioning of the British National Health Service and professional groups within it. In particular, this paper considers the functioning of nursing as an holistic, intuitive, humanistic, and caring act within the context of the scientific, rational, performance and outcomes-orientated new public management ideology presently sweeping the health service. The resultant tensions this apparent dichotomy is causing nursing will be tentatively explored. Lastly, an agenda for change will be proposed which will identify ways in which nursing can respond and, more importantly, be proactive within the contextual changes highlighted.