2007 United Kingdom Health Study Tour

United Kingdom April 28 – May 4, 2007

Host: Nigel Edwards, NHS Confederation
Facilitator: W. David Helms, Ph.D., AcademyHealth

Recent reforms: Halfway through a 10-year reform process, the U.K.’s tax-funded health service is undergoing significant changes aimed at ensuring that the National Health Service (NHS) can meet its core mission: to provide equal access to care that is available at the point of need regardless of ability to pay. The reforms are far-reaching, encompassing patient choice, a wider range of providers, more autonomy for hospitals, new payment mechanisms, and independent monitoring of quality.

Tour topics and site visits: In addition to general briefing sessions, including an overview of the U.K. health system, funding the National Health System (NHS), and the use of health systems research in the U.K., the tour enabled participants to meet with leading experts and high-level policymakers who addressed critical issues in the country, including:

• Primary Care: How has the U.K. changed its orientation from an acute care model to a primary care model focused on integrating chronic care and mental health coverage?
• Pay-for-Performance: What has been the U.K. experience with using pay-for-performance to drive quality improvement among general practitioners?
• Health Information Technology: What lessons from Connecting for Health, the largest government-funded program for health information technology, can be applied in the U.S.?
• Evidence-Based Decision Making: What role does the new National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) play in providing evidence-based guidance on clinical practice, health technologies, and public health?
• Performance Measurement and Reporting: How does the Healthcare Commission measure and report on performance of the National Health Service and independent health care organizations?

Partner organization:
The NHS Confederation, based in London, Northern Island, and Wales, brings together the full range of organizations that make up the modern NHS in the U.K. It acts as an independent force in the drive for better health and health care by: influencing health policy and the wider public debate; supporting health leaders with information-sharing, networking and tailor-made services; and promoting excellence in employment to improve the working lives of health care staff.

United Kingdom Tour Itinerary

United Kingdom Participant List

2007 Study Tours Brochure

AcademyHealth Reports, September 2007:
Study Tour Spotlights UK Health System