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The 2010-2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government proposed introducing a radical decentralisation reform of the organisation, financing, and planning of medical workforce education and training in England. However, following public deliberation and parliamentary scrutiny of the government's proposals, it had to abandon and alter its original proposals to the extent that they failed to achieve their original decentralisation objectives. This failed decentralisation attempt provides important lessons about the policy process and content of both workforce governance and health system reforms in Europe and beyond. The organisation, financing, and planning of medical workforce education is as an issue of national importance and should remain in the stewardship of the national government. Future reform efforts seeking to enhance the skills of the workforce needed to deliver high-quality care for patients in the 21st century will have a greater chance of succeeding if they are clearly articulated through engagement with stakeholders, and focus on the delivery of undergraduate and postgraduate multi-professional education and training in universities and teaching hospitals.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/j.healthpol.2015.09.005

Type

Journal article

Journal

Health Policy

Publication Date

12/2015

Volume

119

Pages

1545 - 1549

Keywords

Decentralisation, England, Health workforce governance, Healthcare reform, Medical education and training, Education, Medical, England, Government, Health Care Reform, Health Personnel, Health Policy, Humans, Politics