Clinical leadership in UK health care: exploring a marketing perspective

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to explore the application of marketing in health care, and in particular to assess its relevance to clinical leadership in the UK NHS.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper discusses a marketing perspective using literature and policy material.

Findings

The paper suggests that a marketing perspective is relevant in the UK NHS. Health service reforms have created a market in which choice and competition are levers for improving performance. Central to this is the notion of patient choice. Marketing is a way of exploring these issues. The paper suggests that there may be resistance to ideas originating from the private sector, and this needs to be overcome.

Practical implications

Marketing offers a framework and a set of techniques with which to improve organisational performance and ensure a focus on quality in meeting the needs of the patient. The new payment‐by‐results funding system ensures that money follows patients. Providers will need to focus on quality to attract patients and track resulting funding streams.

Originality/value

The paper demonstrates that private sector methods and techniques are relevant in the public sector, although one must take into account differing contexts.

Citation

Willcocks, S. (2008), "Clinical leadership in UK health care: exploring a marketing perspective", Leadership in Health Services, Vol. 21 No. 3, pp. 158-167. https://doi.org/10.1108/17511870810892994