Regional variation in the Scottish health service 1951-1976 : an analysis of public policy

Abstract

This dissertation examines the success of the National Health Service in Scotland in achieving the goal of regional equality. An historical analysis provides some indication that regional disparities have characterised the Scottish Health Service in the twentieth century. The data from 1951 to 1976 demonstrate the failure of the SHS to meet the policy objective in the recent past. An output policy model is developed to facilitate an explanation of persistent regional variation. The government structure, socio-economic and health status variables successfully explain a large percentage of the variation which exists between Health Board Regions. The most powerful of the independent variables is the nature of the policy process. The evidence presented in the thesis indicates clearly that the predominant policy process in existence within the SHS over time is incrementalism.