title: The reform of the British National Health Service.
abstract: After a 40-year existence as a service sheltered from market influences, the reforms introduced in 1990 and coming into effect at this time profoundly alter the role of hospitals and primary care physicians. The hospitals may sell and purchase services across former boundaries; the family doctor has a host of additional duties under the new contract. The details of these arrangements and professional criticisms are described.
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Madden
mesh_terms: D002017:Budgets; D003284:Contract Services; D005194:Family Practice / Q000191:economics; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006779:Hospitals, Public / Q000458:organization & administration; D011332:Privatization / Q000191:economics*; D013222:State Medicine / Q000191:economics / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006113:United Kingdom