The future of fundholding

Abstract

The announcement last October of an extension to the fundholding scheme marks a further phase in its development.1 Health ministers clearly think that fundholding is a success and are treating it as the jewel in the crown of the NHS reforms. Independent commentators are more sceptical, arguing that no comparison has been made of fundholding and non-fundholding practices and calling for research into the effects of different models of commissioning health care.2