The NHS came into existence from an atmosphere generated by strong ideological commitment of the post-war Labour government, and the opposition of the Conservative party to the idea of a universally available, centrally planned medical care service. In more recent years, the conflict about the service has increased. Rising public expectations about what is feasible in medicine have been matched by criticisms implying low standards in the NHS. This book weighs up the successes and failures of the NHS, and examines the conflicts which have risen the health service for over 40 years. It looks at recent responses to the apparent failure of health care in the UK, and includes discussions of the public/private debate within the health service. Carrier and Kendall have written together "NHS Management" and the "Griffiths Report, Medical Negligence" (1990), and contributed to and edited "Socialism and the NHS" (1990).