Achieving accountable government
10 years after NHS Foundation Trusts were created, their democratic processes are failing
The first Foundation Trusts were launched ten years ago this week, in April 2004. This new model was designed to increase the autonomy of NHS organisations and make them democratically accountable to local communities. The model may have succeeded on the former objective but on the latter they have fallen far short of expectations, argues Democratic Audit’s Richard […]
The Committee on Standards in Public Life is responding to the need for scrutiny of ethical standards in local government
On the 10th March on the Democratic Audit blog, Alan Doig argued that the Committee on Standards in Public Life (CSPL) has been ineffective in safeguarding ethical standards across local government. In response, the Chair of the Committee, Lord Bew , describes the role of the committee, its recent activities, and how it contributes to upholding […]
20 things we learned about democracy in March 2014
March 2014 was an eventful month for democracy, with April set to be even more eventful yet. From dancing to election results, to Islamophobia and local government, Democratic Audit brings you the 20 most interesting things that came across our radar this month. Similar PostsThe real reasons referendums have become so common – and so […]
Unpacking patient trust in the “who” and the “how” of Internet-based health records
In an attempt to reduce costs and improve quality, digital health records are permeating health systems all over the world. Ulike Rauer shows that Internet-based access to them creates new opportunities for access and sharing – while at the same time causing nightmares to many patients, such as seeing their medical data becoming easily available, unprotected from strangers, with little to […]
We need to ensure transparency isn’t the cost of outsourcing
Public sector organisations in the UK are increasing looking to outsource functions to the private and voluntary sector. The Freedom of Information Act provides for disclosure by independent providers of public service, but the practical implications are complex, suggests Steve Wood of the Information Commissioner’s Office. He argues that outsourcing contracts need greater clarity over […]
Book Review: At Power’s Elbow: Aides to the Prime Minister from Robert Walpole to David Cameron
Special Advisers and prime-ministerial aides have come to prominence increasingly over the last decade, with operatives like Alastair Campbell and Andy Coulson frequently making front-page news. But little is generally known about the role itself, what it entails, and how it has developed down the years. Catherine Haddon, in reviewing this new offering from Andrew Blick and George Jones, finds […]
Health and Wellbeing Boards differ in their levels of transparency, involvement and modes of operation
Health and Wellbeing Boards were introduced alongside the government’s structural reforms of the NHS, as new bodies aiming to bring together NHS commissioners, local government and others, and were expected to provide an important new forum for democratic input into the health service. Anna Coleman and Surindar Dhesi analyse the experience of Health and Wellbeing […]
The Committee on Standards in Public Life has proven itself ineffective in safeguarding ethical standards across local government
The government had made significant changes to the way ethical standards are monitored, especially in local government. In this post, Alan Doig argues that the weakening of monitoring regimes is in part a failure of the Committee on Standards in Public Life to ensure its strategic objectives are implemented across the public sector. Similar PostsAfter […]
Fewer Special Advisers run for Parliament than is generally thought, but those that do are quick to climb the ladder
Special Advisers becoming Members of Parliament is a phenomenon seen as symptomatic of a wider ‘professionalisation’ of British politics. Looking at the career progress of those Special Advisers who served between 1979 and 2010, Max Goplerud shows that they do not all seek a berth in Parliament, though those that do tend to experience rapid […]
20 things we learned about democracy in February 2014
February is the shortest month of the year, but that doesn’t mean that we haven’t learned an awful lot about democracy. In just 28 short days, we’ve found out about online voting, the public’s dismal view of Prime Minister’s Questions, perceptions of corruption, and an unlikely revival for a Jeffrey Archer storyline. Similar PostsBeyond metro […]
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