Table 1.
Key features of each Parliamentary term
| Parliamentary term/ | Average | Average | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Party Prime Minister | annual real | annual GDP | |
| /start date | terms change | growth (%) | |
| (majority/seats) | in NHS ex‐ | ||
| penditure (%) | Key new NHS policies that might impact on provider productivity | ||
| Labour | 5.5 | 3.32 | 1997: Private Finance Initiative enacted to fund NHS capital investment |
| Tony Blair | 1998: launch of NHS Direct telephone advice service | ||
| 1‐May‐1997 | 2000: creation of walk‐in centres and minor injuries units | ||
| (179/659) | 2001: 18‐month maximum wait for inpatient treatment | ||
| Labour | 7.95 | 2.73 | 2002: 4‐hour waiting time target to be seen in A&E |
| Tony Blair | 2003: start of phased introduction of prospective payment (Payment by Results) for hospital activity | ||
| 7‐Jun‐2001 | 2003: new contract for hospital doctors (consultants) | ||
| (167/659) | 2004: new GP contract | ||
| 2004: introduction of Agenda for Change contract for NHS staff (except doctors) | |||
| 2004: First ten foundation trusts established | |||
| 2004: First contracts allowing NHS patients to be treated in private (independent sector) treatment centres | |||
| 2005: 6‐month maximum wait for inpatient treatment | |||
| Labour | 4.15 | 2.79 | 2006: patients offered choice of at least four hospitals for planned care |
| Tony Blair | |||
| 5‐May‐2005 | |||
| (66/646) | |||
| Labour | 5.67 | −1.06 | 2008: choice extended to any hospital for planned care |
| Gordon Brown | 2009: maximum 18‐week waiting time embodied in new NHS Constitution | ||
| 27‐Jun‐2007 | |||
| (na) | |||
| Conservative‐Liberal Democrat Coalition; | 1.18 | 1.84 | 2011: ‘Quality, Innovation, Productivity and Prevention’ challenge to save £15–20bn from 2011 to 2014 |
| David Cameron | 2012: choice of any qualified provider | ||
| 6‐May‐2010 | 2012: Health and Social Care Act | ||
| (78/650) | 2013: Substantial re‐organisation of NHS enacted |
Term dates and seats from (Wikipedia, 2015).
Expenditure up to 2010/2011 from (Harker, 2012) up to 2013/2014 from (Her Majesty's Treasury, 2014) GDP from (Office for National Statistics, 2015).
GDP, gross domestic product; NHS, National Health Service; GP, general practitioner.