Skip to main content
Presented to you through Paradigm Publishing Services

Policy Press

Visit our Partner Page See all our books
Chapter
Licensed
Unlicensed Requires Authentication

Nine Health policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland

Abstract

Differences in health policy between the countries of the UK existed before the introduction of devolved governance in the late 1990s (see Levitt and Wall, 1984; Webster, 1996; Stewart, 2004; Woods, 2004). The NHS in Scotland was governed by separate legislation and fell within the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Scottish Office. Although broadly adopting the policies of the UK government, Scotland had some leeway in how it organised the NHS. In 1974, for example, it established unified health boards responsible for family health services as well as hospital and community health services. Wales, meanwhile, began to enjoy a measure of administrative devolution for the NHS in the late 1960s, extended further in 1974 when responsibility for all health services was delegated to the Secretary of State for Wales (Webster, 1996). Until the early 1970s, Northern Ireland had responsibility for health services under Home Rule arrangements. It had its own Parliament and government. These arrangements were suspended due to civil conflict in the Province (known as ‘the Troubles’). Northern Ireland was from then on subject to direct rule from the UK government. However, a high degree of administrative devolution was allowed in the field of health policy, under the stewardship of the Northern Ireland Office.

Political and cultural differences were also relevant prior to devolution. For example, Scotland is regarded as having powerful medical elites (Greer, 2009). Scotland and Wales both have strong socialist traditions, embedded within their political cultures. Such factors may explain discernible differences in policy implementation on issues where the UK government was not strongly committed or was disinterested (Woods, 2004).

Abstract

Differences in health policy between the countries of the UK existed before the introduction of devolved governance in the late 1990s (see Levitt and Wall, 1984; Webster, 1996; Stewart, 2004; Woods, 2004). The NHS in Scotland was governed by separate legislation and fell within the responsibilities of the Secretary of State for Scotland and the Scottish Office. Although broadly adopting the policies of the UK government, Scotland had some leeway in how it organised the NHS. In 1974, for example, it established unified health boards responsible for family health services as well as hospital and community health services. Wales, meanwhile, began to enjoy a measure of administrative devolution for the NHS in the late 1960s, extended further in 1974 when responsibility for all health services was delegated to the Secretary of State for Wales (Webster, 1996). Until the early 1970s, Northern Ireland had responsibility for health services under Home Rule arrangements. It had its own Parliament and government. These arrangements were suspended due to civil conflict in the Province (known as ‘the Troubles’). Northern Ireland was from then on subject to direct rule from the UK government. However, a high degree of administrative devolution was allowed in the field of health policy, under the stewardship of the Northern Ireland Office.

Political and cultural differences were also relevant prior to devolution. For example, Scotland is regarded as having powerful medical elites (Greer, 2009). Scotland and Wales both have strong socialist traditions, embedded within their political cultures. Such factors may explain discernible differences in policy implementation on issues where the UK government was not strongly committed or was disinterested (Woods, 2004).

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents vii
  3. Detailed contents viii
  4. List of boxes xi
  5. List of abbreviations xii
  6. Preface xvi
  7. Analysing health policy 1
  8. Party politics and health policy 21
  9. Central government and health policy 45
  10. Parliament and health policy 71
  11. The media and health policy 95
  12. Policy networks and health policy 117
  13. Health policy and the NHS 145
  14. Partnerships and health policy 177
  15. Health policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 209
  16. The international context of UK health policy 237
  17. Conclusion 265
  18. References 273
  19. Index 327
Understanding Health Policy
This chapter is in the book Understanding Health Policy
https://doi.org/10.56687/9781447320371-013

Chapters in this book

  1. Front Matter i
  2. Contents vii
  3. Detailed contents viii
  4. List of boxes xi
  5. List of abbreviations xii
  6. Preface xvi
  7. Analysing health policy 1
  8. Party politics and health policy 21
  9. Central government and health policy 45
  10. Parliament and health policy 71
  11. The media and health policy 95
  12. Policy networks and health policy 117
  13. Health policy and the NHS 145
  14. Partnerships and health policy 177
  15. Health policy in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland 209
  16. The international context of UK health policy 237
  17. Conclusion 265
  18. References 273
  19. Index 327
Downloaded on 4.5.2026 from https://www.degruyterbrill.com/document/doi/10.56687/9781447320371-013/html?lang=en
Scroll to top button