Workforce productivity and incentive structures in the UK National Health Service

Abstract

The UK National Health Service (NHS) is a labour-intensive service, yet the productivity of one of the largest labour forces in the world has been relatively ignored over the last 50 years. The data available to measure productivity over time are limited and focus on inputs and activity, not outcome. However, what data there are indicate that, despite major increases in NHS funding and staffing, changes in technology and continuous reorganisation of structures, productivity tends to show little or no change over successive decades. The challenges to policy-makers are how to improve the measurement of productivity and how to alter the behaviour of hospital clinicians and general practitioners by reform of incentive structures in the UK NHS.