NHS Reforms and the Working Lives of Midwives and Physiotherapists

Cambridge Centre for Business Research Working Paper No. 344

36 Pages Posted: 20 Sep 2011

See all articles by Frank Wilkinson

Frank Wilkinson

University of London - Birkbeck College

Anna Bullock

University of Cambridge - Centre for Business Research (CBR)

Brendan Burchell

University of Cambridge - Department of Sociology

Suzanne J. Konzelmann

University of London - Birkbeck College - Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Management and Organizational Psychology; University of Cambridge - Faculty of Social and Political Sciences

Roy Mankelow

affiliation not provided to SSRN

Date Written: June 1, 2007

Abstract

From 2000 the NHS was subjected to a series of far reaching reforms, the purposes of which were to increase the role of the primary care sector in commissioning and providing services, promote healthier life styles, reduce health inequality, and improve service standards. These were seen as requiring a greater leadership role from health professionals, closer and more cooperative working between health professionals, and between health professionals, social services, and community and other service providers. The project surveyed a random sample of midwives and physiotherapists to investigate their perceptions of the effectiveness of the reforms, and their effects on working lives. The predominant perception was that NHS reforms had negatively affected the funding of their services; and had done little to improve service quality, delivery or organization. Although the potential existed for the reforms to improve services, the necessary resources and required staffing were not made available and the objectives of the reforms were only partially secured by intensifying of work. The downside of this was a deterioration of the sociopsychological well being of midwives and physiotherapists, especially the former, exacerbating the shortage of skilled and experienced. Shortage of staff and the associated increased work burdens were demoralizing and demotivating; morale and job satisfaction declined, and job insecurity and labor turnover increased.

Keywords: professional work, midwives, physiotherapists, Britain, public sector reforms, job satisfaction, morale

JEL Classification: J44, L84

Suggested Citation

Wilkinson, Frank and Bullock, Anna and Burchell, Brendan and Konzelmann, Suzanne J. and Mankelow, Roy, NHS Reforms and the Working Lives of Midwives and Physiotherapists (June 1, 2007). Cambridge Centre for Business Research Working Paper No. 344, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1930858 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.1930858

Frank Wilkinson (Contact Author)

University of London - Birkbeck College ( email )

Department of Management
London WC1E 7HX
United Kingdom

Anna Bullock

University of Cambridge - Centre for Business Research (CBR) ( email )

King's Parade
Cambridge, CB3 0DS
United Kingdom

Brendan Burchell

University of Cambridge - Department of Sociology ( email )

Free School Lane
Cambridge, CB2 3RQ
United Kingdom

Suzanne J. Konzelmann

University of London - Birkbeck College - Faculty of Social Sciences, School of Management and Organizational Psychology ( email )

Malet Street
Bloomsbury
London, WC1E 7HX
United Kingdom
+44 (0) 207 631 6799 (Phone)

HOME PAGE: http://www.bbk.ac.uk/management/our-staff/academics/konzelmann

University of Cambridge - Faculty of Social and Political Sciences ( email )

ESRC Centre for Business Research
Cambridge, CB2 1TN
United Kingdom
+44 1223 337733 (Phone)

Roy Mankelow

affiliation not provided to SSRN

No Address Available

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