The New Politics of the NHS has become established over a quarter century and five editions as the key overview of the NHS and its processes and paths of influence. This latest edition remains a clear, easy-to-read guide to often complex debates. It encompasses both the background of the evolution of the NHS since its foundation, and a completely up-to-date picture of its present and future in a more pluralistic - and possibly more financially austere - era in which deference to medical expertise is eroding and information on health and care is far more widely available. Assuming no prior knowledge of NHS politics and systems, The New Politics of the NHS focuses on management, structure, centralisation, funding, economic performance, challenges, current party political debates, interest groups and rationing, and also on the NHS's institutional and cultural continuity as a tax-funded service providing comprehensive, universal healthcare free at the point of delivery. It is a vital update for all healthcare professionals, NHS managers, policy makers and shapers, and those in special interest groups including patient advocacy organisations. From reviews of previous editions: ' A valuable insight into the discussions and decisions that determine such an important aspect of our daily life.' CANCER CARE NEWS

Piers H.G. Stephens lectures in Philosophy at the University of Liverpool as well as holding an honorary research fellowship at the School of Politics, International Relations and the Environment (SPIRE) at the University of Keele. He is features editor (Books, Film, Music and Other Media Reviews) and Futuristic and Utopian Studies co-editor of the international journal Organization and Environment, has co-edited two books, Perspectives on the Environment 2 (1995) and Environmental Futures (1999), and contributed articles and reviews to various journals, including Environmental Politics and Environmental Values.