Impact of Privatization on NHS Healthcare Services: A Study

This report delves into the impact of privatization on the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK. It begins with an abstract outlining the core focus on the effects of privatization on NHS profitability. The introduction highlights the role of private companies in delivering NHS services and the government's initiatives to improve patient care through reforms. A comprehensive literature review explores existing research on the impact of privatization on healthcare, focusing on the services delivered, the effects on patients, and changes in healthcare services, including profitability and costs. The research methodology section details the strategies, approaches, and paradigms used, including data collection and analysis methods. The report also outlines the research protocol, criteria for study inclusion, and quality appraisal methods. The data analysis and interpretations are presented, followed by a discussion of limitations. The report aims to understand the implications of privatized services, assess changes in costs, and evaluate the impact on patients and service delivery. The study concludes by considering the positive and negative impacts if the NHS gets privatized, offering strategies to improve services and address potential issues.

NHS Privatization

TABLE OF CONTENTS
ABSTRACT.....................................................................................................................................3
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................5
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES...............................................................................................10
Research strategy..................................................................................................................10
Research approach................................................................................................................11
Research paradigm...............................................................................................................11
Research philosophy.............................................................................................................12
Research design....................................................................................................................12
Data collection......................................................................................................................12
Sampling...............................................................................................................................13
Data Analysis........................................................................................................................13
RESEARCH PROTOCOL.............................................................................................................13
Criteria for including study-.................................................................................................13
Identification of the studies..................................................................................................14
Selection of study.................................................................................................................14
Quality appraisal...................................................................................................................14
Quality Assessment-ethical..................................................................................................14
Data analysis.........................................................................................................................15
Data Analysis and Interpretations........................................................................................15
LIMITATION................................................................................................................................18
REFERENCE.................................................................................................................................20
APPENDIX....................................................................................................................................23

ABSTRACT
Privatization is referred to the conversion of a public organization into a privately owned
business. In this kind of firm, the government has no control over it. In this present firm, the
privatization of National health services (NHS) has been taken into consideration. NHS is found
to take various initiatives to deliver the best possible services to their customers by partnering
with private companies. The present report demonstrates a research carried out to investigate the
impact of privatization onto the profitability aspect of NHS by various available means. For this
purpose, several research tactics have been applied that mainly involved the description of a
literature reviews along with the search strategies adopted by the researcher. Also, the methods
chosen to conduct the study has also been discussed followed by a research protocol to ease off
the readers to have a clear interpretation of the undertaken investigation and its acquired
outcomes.
INTRODUCTION
In the services of health, this organisation has played a very effective role. Most of the
private companies played a very effective role in the distribution of services in NHS. In fact, this
thing is to be considered with the increment of an involved privatisation in this organisation that
has impacted upon its whole working environment by undermining the core values of their
offered services (Abel-Smith and Titmuss, 2016). These kind of developments are not that much
effective. In this, the UK government is giving the flexibility to select patients as per their
choices and is also taking various steps like reform programmes and additional capacity to
improve the healing procedures of the patients. The NHS is taking various initiative in order to
deliver the best services to their customers by partnering with private companies. With the help
of private companies, NHS can provide a vast range of products such are as Medicines, CT
scanners, radiology machines, etc. These all are essential to provide better and effective services.
The privatisation can impact largely on the services of health care. NHS took various
initiatives in terms of providing those services by which they can grow to become world’s largest
health service provider. The main reason behind the conversion of NHS service into private firm
is to provide better and effective services to the users so that they can stay attracted towards the
firm (Lucas and Clarke, 2014). The availability of resources can be increased in this manner.
This kind of activity is helpful in promoting better and effective services to the service users.

One of the most effective service which is being provided by the private organisations is the
choice of selecting the consultant, hospital and the type of treatment within which they don't
have to get legally bound. With this kind of proposal, NHS can promote better and effective
services to their customers. In private organisation, there can be more skilled personnel resources
to take good care of their patients. If an individual receives neat and clean room facility, they can
stay in a healthy environment.
These kind of services are very effective in terms of generating large amount of
profitably and productivity in the organisation. In this manner, the organisation can together
maintain its brand image in the market. The cost and services are the main reasons for which,
most of the customers prefer to take treatment from them. In this manner, the firm is maintaining
its position in good manner. The company is taking time to covert this firm into government
sector. It has been determined as a truth where privatisation can cost more for the patients and
due to which, the patients may easily get distracted from the company and begin acknowledging
the information about its competitor’s. These kind of strategies are effective in terms of earning
large amount of profitability in the market and NHS is thus required to seriously consider
approaching its service users in terms of retaining them for a longer time period (Martin and
et.al., 2015). With assistance of these kind of activities in the organisation, NHS can refer to
maintain its brand image in the market. In this present research project, the following activities
are to be considered, such as, literature review, research methodology, research protocol,
dissemination and various kinds of limitations while conducting the study. These kind of
activities are helpful in maintaining the brand image of the company. The main objective is to
provide good care to the patients to retain them in the firm for a longer time period. The main
reason behind this activity is to take effective steps to promote good and effective services to the
service users. The present study will deep be understanding related to the negative and positive
impact if NHS get privatised. Issues health and social care organisation faced due to privatising
will be understand in detail in the research. On the basis of the provided information NHS can
use strategies and improve its services so that if firm get privatised then it can easily carry out its
practices without facing any problem.
AIM
To explore the impact of privatization on health care services: A study on NHS.

OBJECTIVES
 To identify the services that are delivered by NHS to patients.
 To evaluate the impact on patients due to privatization.
 To analyse the changes that take place in health care services due to privatization of NHS.
 To understand the impact of privatised services in generating large amount of
profitability.
 To analyse the impact of privatisation on the costs incurred by NHS.
LITERATURE REVIEW
This process is very effective in terms of determining various kind of aspect in the
formulation of better and effective services. In this way, there exists several kind of research
related activities that are required to be carried out by different researchers, presenting their
distinct set of ideas to reflect the findings of this study in an expertise manner. It is also
beneficial enough for the development of an in- depth knowledge and understanding on the
impact of privatization on health care providers like NHS and the services offered by them.
By using key words such as impact of privatization on health care sector, etc., literature
search process was conducted. Thus, key words helped in assessing suitable books, journals and
scholarly articles that was highly associated with the research issue or problem. In the current
literature, latest and relevant articles, as per research objectives, have been considered. This in
turn recognized as one of the main strengths of LR that was conducted in the present study. Due
to the time limitation large number of books and articles were not considered which in turn
recognized as weakness. In the previous studies, it was clearly mentioned that privatization
closely influences health and social care sector. This research or investigation has placed focus
on assessing the impact of privatization of NHS. Hence, through the means of current research,
such gap has been addressed. Further, with the motive to attain research aim and objectives from
theoretical perspectives themes have been prepared. Thus, considering several articles related to
the topic themes have been addressed and maintained consistency in the literature to a great
extent.
The rationale behind carry out present investigation is that over the last two decade’s
privatization pertaining to the services of health care sector has gained more attention. With the
motive to reduce cost and enhance efficiency level health care units have turned to private sector.

Thus, concerned study will provide deeper insight to the health care firms and patients about the
influence of privatization such sector. Hence, such investigation and associated outcome will
enable health care units in developing competent strategic framework that contributes in success
and provide patients with more benefits.
To analysis the services that are delivered by NHS to patients
According to Harrison, (2013), there are different kind of procedure in order to develop
the services of NHS into privatisation. The focus is on the quality of services given by them to
patients so that they can feel positive. The timely medicine should be given in proper manner
that the patient can be feel stressed out and active. This firm is taking various kind of effective
steps in order to provide better services so which is to be design with the high quality of services,
cost effective care which will help in manner to improve the health of person in efficient manner.
This kind of strategy is very helpful in order to gain brand image in the market. This is very
essential to have changes in policies and procedure in order to develop overall strategy by
delivering better and effective services.
According to Harrison, (2013), the focus is to be given on the health of patient which is
very important to manage the health of patients. In order to get feedback, they have taken
changes such as giving feedback to the customer so that they will have an idea about the services
what they are receiving. The level of care received by the patient of Nation health services are
really very effective and helpful in manner to get services with full dedication and high level of
care.
With this kind of services, the patients used to satisfy. According to Abel-Smith and
Titmuss, (2016), they are having various kind of Morden equipment from which they can receive
services and get effective treatment from here only. In order to get customer attraction towards
the organisation it is very essential to provide effective services with the help of innovation so
that the firm is able to maintain its brand image in the market. In this the company will produce
large amount of profitability and productivity with maximum amount of market share. As per the
view it can be said that if NHS turns their services to privatisation firm that it is possible to have
those activities which is helpful in order to promote better and effective services to person. The
one of the effective services which are provided by the private organisation is that they can select
the consultant, hospital and type of treatment they don't have any legal bound with any kind of
thing in National Health Service which promotes better and effective services to customer. As

per the view of Harrison, (2013), it can be clearly seen that the NHS is able to deliver the
effective services to the customer, they provide emergency treatment to customer which is the
most suitable and attractive feature to the firm.
To understand the negative impact on patients due to privatization
According to Robotham and et.al., (2016), it is important to understand the negative
effect on health of the person. In this manner, various kind of identification process is need to be
taken. In this way they will have an idea about the services reviving from medical staff.
According to Dixon-Woods and et.al., (2013), the private firm using the ineffective decision on
the health of person because they are not legally bound with any act. They do not have to
question any legal body in any manner to take initiatives so that employee retention cannot be
possible in thuggish manner.
According to Abel-Smith and Titmuss, (2016), the firm is not ready to take any changes
in manner to have positive result. Once they establish their brand, they will not take any steps to
promote good services to customers. As per the view of Dixon-Woods and et.al., (2013), the
services get worse day by day and in this way it can affect the health of the person in large
manner. According to Robotham and et.al. (2016), the main and negative effect of privatisation
on the health of the patient health is that is the costliest as compare to any other services.
As per the view of Robotham and et.al., (2016), it can be true to said that privatisation
bring less flexibility and fragmentation due to this kind of activities in which the customer
selection shifts to other firm. In this way the profitability and productivity of business enterprise
will be affected in large manner. In this the firm need to maintain its brand image in the market.
As per the view of Waterson (2014), has said that the employees of the privatisation always face
the issues like job cuts and more causal workers who are not able to deliver good services to
customers.
According to Harrison, (2013) in privatisation knowledge of staff, skills and experiences
reduces which has a negative impact on the health of the person and this kind of activities are
affecting the health of the person in largely manner. According to view of Waterson (2014), has
defined that the major focus of privatisation is to earn more amount of money as possible.
As per the view of Robotham and et.al. (2016), has discussed that when many kinds of
private firm use five services to the patients in public manner than in this way the process
becomes complicated. This kind of process is called as fragmented due to the image of the

health care organisation can be affect in large manner. As per the view of Robotham and et.al.,
(2016), it can be clearly seen that in private organisation the medical professionals are not so
experienced and with that people cannot trust them easily.
To analyse the changes that take place in health care services due to privatization of NHS
According to the view of Hart and et.al., (2015), it has been discovered that there are
many kinds of changes that can take place, in order to convert the operations of the NHS in to
private sector firm. As per the view of Hart and et.al., (2015), has said the growing of
privatisation activity of the firm can affect the operation of firm and underpinning the services of
core values. In this way the firm need to take effective steps in order to take care of the thing
through which situation can't get worse. As per the view of Robotham and et.al. (2016), has said
that main and negative effect of privatisation on the health of the patient health is that is the
costliest as compare to any other services. This kind of services can have negative impact on the
growth of the firm. As per the view of Abel-Smith and Titmuss, (2016), has said that in private
firm the doctor doesn't have very much experiences, so they are unable to provide better and
effective health services to their patients.
Their major focus is on making money and profits for the organisation due to which the
quality and the standards of the services are affected adversely. As per the view of Hart and
et.al., (2015) has said that level of care received by the patient of National health services are
really very effective and helpful in manner to get services with full dedication and high level of
care services. With this kind of services, the patients used to satisfy. According to view of
Waterson (2014), the turning of NHS into privatisation can also help the patient in manner to
provide good room facility so that patient can stay comfortably. There are also provisions of
calling doctors, whenever it is required during the time of emergencies and uncertainty.
The private jet facility can be given and this level of care received by the patient of
Nation health services are really very effective and helpful in manner to get services with full
dedication and high level of care. This kind of activity facilitate the standard of services for
providing good care to the patient in order to give comfort and satisfaction to them. These level
of services helps in reaching the satisfaction level of the service users. These kinds of features
are helpful in manner to attract the patients in large manner. In this way the brand image of NHS
can be increased in even in more way. Functions of the organisations like NHS revolves around

betterment to their patients and service users. Their first priority is to provide comfort and level
of satisfaction to the, so that they can recover fast and lead a productive life like a normal human
being.
According to the view of Harrison, (2013) has said that by having conversation in NHS it
is important to have firm is taking various kind of effective steps in order to provide better
services so which is to be design with the high quality of services, cost effective care which can
help in manner to improve the health of person in efficient manner. These kinds of activities are
helpful to maintain brand image in the market.
As per the view of Dixon-Woods and et.al., (2013), has said that customer attracted
towards the organisation, it is very essential to provide effective services with the help of
innovation so that firm is able to maintain its brand image in market. Such strategies are very
essential for creating sustainable position in the market. For delivering better services it is very
crucial for the health and social care organisations to adapt changes in their plans and policies,
this will help in enhancing the working criteria of care units.
To understand the difference of having privatisation services in manner to earn large
amount of profitability.
As per the view of Abel-Smith and Titmuss, (2016), it is important to provide better
services to patients so that they can get stay attracted towards the services provided by the firm.
The main motive is to convert the ownership of the firm into privatisation to earn more money as
possible. This kind of factor can affect the growth of the organisation. Due to which, the brand
image of the company can easily get affected in a large manner. In this way, it is essential to
provide quality services to the patients that can help the firm in retaining them for a longer time
period. According to Harrison, (2013), in privatised firm, the knowledge of staff members, their
skills and experiences gets misplaced which can have negative impact on the health of the
patients handled by them. In this way the patient cannot receive optimum care and deals with a
deteriorating health. This will reduce the profitability and brand image of the company to a great
extent by together devastating the cost, services and other things of the firm.
To analyse the impact on cost if NHS turns to Privatisation firm.
According to the view of Hart and et.al., (2015), it has been ascertained that the firm need
to take certain strategic steps to attempt things in a proper and effective manner. The cost factor
can largely impact the growth of the organisation to a great extent. The private companies always

think about earning earn money, no matter what kind of services they are providing. Although, it
is essential to take proper care of the patients to maintain a positive image of the firm. As per the
view of Dixon-Woods and et.al. (2013), the main motive of privatised firms is to keep high cost
of their offered services with a purpose of earning huge revenue. In this way, they try enabling
themselves to capture maximum amount of market shares that ultimately ruins their image in the
market by negatively affecting their business.
RESEARCH METHODOLOGIES
The key objective of the researcher is to find proper outcome of the undertaken research
that can be obtained with the help of several effective research methodologies. There are several
aspects that are inculcated in this project specification in context of NHS. Research
methodologies involved research design, data collection, research philosophies, sampling etc.
NHS needs to undertake new research to improve their services with the help of this carried
research. Research methodologies are helpful for the selection of appropriate tools to solve a
problem. NHS is a publicly funded healthcare services system in UK that has recently faced
some ultimate consequences of privatisation (Abel-Smith and Titmuss, 2016). This organisation
provides free or low cost services to all legal residents of UK. NHS is however required to
investigate upon the consequences of privatisation and ways to combat the negativities to solve
the difficulties existing from it. Research methodologies are apparent to help the researcher in
selecting effective measures for carrying out a well-defined study for further attainment of
effective outcomes.
Research strategy
In research strategy, the investigator is required to set a proper strategy with the help of
this method as a guide to select a strategic approach for the study to be conducted. Basically, it is
the starting point of a research and is a situation, in which, the researcher can choose among two
distinct alternatives namely 1. Qualitative 2. Quantitative both. If a researcher has chosen
qualitative strategy which is based upon the theoretical aspect of work where in this situation, the
researcher is required to work on the privatisation of NHS with a prime focus on the theoretical
aspects and give details about the study. On the other hand, quantitative method is based on only
practical work (Martin and et.al., 2015). Researcher has to choose from both the options of
theoretical or practical approach. Both are very important to address the research topic. Research

strategies are selected on the basis of the problem needed to be resolved in a particular field. In
this report, a mixed approach will be used, accompanied by both qualitative and quantitative
measures to generate valid outcomes.
Research approach
Research approach help to analysis the information that has been to address the research
problem. There are two type of research approaches namely Inductive and Deductive. Inductive
research is helpful in generating new theoretical concepts from the data which is helpful to
acquire relevant findings in context to the privatisation of NHS (Abel-Smith and Titmuss, 2016).
It is apparent to improve their research work and increase their performance. Research based on
inductive approach helps to change the previously obtained data by providing a scope of
improvement. Deductive research does not provision any such interchangeable information by
together leading to lessen down the overall scope of the study.
Research paradigm
A research paradigm is known as a set of common belief and agreement which is shared
between scientist related to the way problem should be understood and addressed. Further
research paradigm can be characterised as through their:
Ontology
Epistemology
Methodology
Epistemology lead to create a holistic view of the way knowledge can be viewed and the
way it can be see ourselves in relation to this knowledge. Along with these methodological
strategies used to discover or undiscover. If researcher has knowledge of philosophical
assumption, then it can increase quality of research and contribute to the creativity of the scholar.
For the present research epistemology approach will be used because it is the theory of
knowledge and the assumption and beliefs that the investigator has about the nature of
knowledge. The reason behind selecting this approach is that it focusses on qualitative research.
Along with this it provides chance to get close as possible to the participants in the study. It is
also one of the more personal and interactive mode of gathering the data and information.

Research philosophy
In research philosophy, the researcher is required to opt for principled values, belief, and
assumptions as some major point of concern to carry out a well-defined and directional study. In
research philosophy, the researcher will be required to choose from the two distinct types known
as interpritivism and positivism where both are important with their distinct set of consideration.
In interpritivism, there exists only single set of findings. In positivism, there are certain facts and
figures consisting of a specific topic. In this research report, using positivism philosophy tends to
solve any problems related to the facts. So the researcher will find only single topic or groups of
facts with specific topics.
Research design
In research design there are also two types namely Descriptive and Exploratory. In
descriptive research design, the researcher has to work on individual group or any kind of
situation (Anderson and Thornley, 2014). In exploratory, the researcher is required to undertake
an in-depth study on a chosen topic with a major consideration of exploring the topic to a great
extent. It however depends upon the nature and type of the chosen topics where the current
research work will depict a descriptive design with a need of describing the impact of
privatisation on NHS and its associated bodies.
Data collection
The term data collection is referred to choose effective methods to gather information
from several resources with a main motive of attaining the set objectives of the study. There are
two kinds of methods for data collection namely primary and secondary. The primary method is
used to collect first-hand information directly from the participants willing to contribute in the
study. It is usually done with the help of focussed group interviews, group observation and
surveys, etc. In secondary data, a wide range of data is being collected from books, journal,
organisational records and articles written by other researchers investigated a similar topic. The
present study has been conducted to ascertain the facts related to the conversion of NHS’s
ownership from public to private and the impact of privatisation onto it as well as its associated
bodies (Macinati and Anessi-Pessina, 2014). The primary data will be collected with the help of
questionnaires and secondary data will be sourced from Google scholar and some relevant
websites on internet.