The Sociology of the Health Service

The Sociology of the Health Service responds directly to the need to develop a sociological analysis of current health policy. Topics covered vary from privatisation and health service management to health education and the politics of professional power. Also included is an histroical review of sociology's contributions to health policy and proposals for an agenda for sociological health policy research in the 1990s. A collection of essays which offer an analysis of current policies in the sociological aspects of the health services. Following an historical overview of medical sociology, contributors discuss such topics as health service management, the outcomes of health care and future policy research. Until now little attention has been paid by sociologists to health policy issues. The Sociology of the Health Service provides an analysis of current policy and covers such topics as privatisation, health education and management.