The Politics of Community Care - Social Rights and Welfare Limites

Community care policy forms part of the political and ideological problem of matching the dimensions of the welfare state to the resources available. In trying to implement a policy which increases citizenship rights and expectations yet further, health and local authorities are likely to deal with the consequent rationing problem by seeking both to control the demand upon their services and to protect their supply. This will mitigate against the cooperative intent at the heart of the policy and produce local tensions and conflicts.