Mutuality in the provision of Scottish healthcare.
The backdrop to this article is provided by the Better Health, Better Care Action Plan (Scottish Government, 2007), Section 1 of which is entitled 'Towards a Mutual NHS'. According to Better Health, Better Care (Scottish Government, 2007: 5): 'Mutual organisations are designed to serve their members. They are designed to gather people around a common sense of purpose. They are designed to bring the organisation together in what people often call "co-production."' The aim of this article is to précis the current knowledge of mutuality in the provision of Scottish healthcare. In detail, it will: introduce the 'mutual' organisation; offer a historical perspective of mutuality; suggest why healthcare mutuality is important; and briefly, detail the differences in mutual health-care policy in England and Scotland. It is hoped that this analysis will help researchers and practitioners alike appreciate further the philosophy of mutuality in the provision of Scottish healthcare.
School of Social Science, The University of Dundee, Dundee, UK w.b.howieson@dundee.ac.uk.
Brian
B
Howieson
D003299:Cooperative Behavior; D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D004739:England; D006291:Health Policy; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D011785:Quality Assurance, Health Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D012606:Scotland
Mutuality; Scottish healthcare; healthcare policy