NHS Reforms and Norfolk Physiotherapists

Abstract

This article looks at aspects of the reforms in the NHS 1974–95 as they affected some Norfolk physiotherapists. The past thirty years have been a time of almost continual change in the National Health Service. This qualitative study, conducted in 1996, using data collected in audio-taped semi-structured interviews, attempted to discover how a sample of Norfolk physiotherapists perceived the way in which changes have occurred in the management and delivery of the physiotherapy service. Five main themes emerged from the data – concerning information management, management of the service, trusts and GP fundholding, physiotherapy practice, and relationships with the medical profession. As these were explored it became clear that physiotherapists' perception of change, as well as the material delivery of services, had been affected. This article looks at aspects of the reforms in the NHS 1974–95 as they affected some Norfolk physiotherapists. The past thirty years have been a time of almost continual change in the National Health Service. This qualitative study, conducted in 1996, using data collected in audio-taped semi-structured interviews, attempted to discover how a sample of Norfolk physiotherapists perceived the way in which changes have occurred in the management and delivery of the physiotherapy service. Five main themes emerged from the data – concerning information management, management of the service, trusts and GP fundholding, physiotherapy practice, and relationships with the medical profession. As these were explored it became clear that physiotherapists' perception of change, as well as the material delivery of services, had been affected.