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Going Private? Exploring the drift away from the NHS

Sylvester, S., Calnan, Michael .W., Manley, Graham, Taylor-Gooby, Peter (2000) Going Private? Exploring the drift away from the NHS. Primary Dental Care, 7 (2). pp. 49-53. ISSN 1355-7610. (doi:10.1308/135576100322732166) (The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided) (KAR id:12682)

The full text of this publication is not currently available from this repository. You may be able to access a copy if URLs are provided.
Official URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1308/135576100322732166

Abstract

The perception that dentistry is being privatised is widespread. A two-phase study was undertaken to investigate the factors influencing dentists' decisions to practise in the public and or private sectors. In phase I a national postal survey of general dental practitioners (n=1011) explored differences in working practices and experience of NHS and non-NHS work. Survey data were supplemented in phase II by in-depth interviews with four subsamples of dentists in two regions.The survey found that although the majority of dentists continued to treat the majority of their patients within the NHS since the introduction of the 1990 contract patterns of practice have changed. Where private dentistry was increasing, it was regionally variable and arose mainly from concerns with financial security, maintaining quality of work and autonomy. Ideological differences were apparent in relation to differences in practice mix. Those who continued to work in the NHS, because of insufficient demand for private dentistry, did so in order to provide access to treatment and to maintain a reliable source of income and pension rights. Dentists interviewed expressed reluctance in withdrawing from NHS practice. Disillusionment with government policy and recognition of the marginal nature of dental health issues suggests that current trends will continue.

Item Type: Article
DOI/Identification number: 10.1308/135576100322732166
Subjects: H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General)
H Social Sciences > HM Sociology
Divisions: Divisions > Division for the Study of Law, Society and Social Justice > School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research > Centre for Health Services Studies
Depositing User: Paula Loader
Date Deposited: 02 Jun 2009 11:20 UTC
Last Modified: 16 Nov 2021 09:50 UTC
Resource URI: https://kar.kent.ac.uk/id/eprint/12682 (The current URI for this page, for reference purposes)

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