Are elected health boards an effective mechanism for public participation in health service governance
Bibliographic Data
| ID | 19508909 |
|---|---|
| Authors | Richard Gauld (0000-0001-5401-1192, University of Otago, corresponding author), Robin Gauld |
| Year | 2010 |
| Volume | 13 |
| Issue | 4 |
| Pages | 369-378 |
| Publication date | 2010-12-01 |
| Peer Reviewed | Yes |
| Open Access | Yes |
| Type | ARTICLE |
| Venue | Health Expectations (JOURNAL) |
| Journal identifiers | ISSN: 1369-6513 • E-ISSN: 1369-7625 |
| Publisher | Wiley (PUBLISHER • GB) |
| DOI | 10.1111/j.1369-7625.2010.00605.x |
| PMID | 20579118 |
| OpenAlex | W1481870128 |
| Language | EN |
| Citations received | 1 |
| References cited | 18 |
Background There is growing interest in the idea of elected members on health service governing boards as a means to induce public participation in planning and decision making, yet studies of elected boards are limited. Whether elected boards are an effective mechanism for public participation remains unclear. Setting and participants This article discusses the experiences of New Zealand where, since 2001, there have been three sets of elections for District Health Boards. Information on candidates and election results is presented along with data gathered via post‐election voter surveys. The article also considers the broader regulatory context within which the elected boards must operate. Discussion and conclusions The New Zealand experience illustrates that elected health boards may not be an effective mechanism for public participation. Voter turnout has declined since the inaugural elections of 2001, and non‐voters form the majority. Reasons for not voting include failure to receive voting papers, a lack of interest, or no knowledge of elections. The elections have also failed to produce minority representation, while the capacity for elected members to represent their communities is subject to constraints. On the upside, elections have enabled public involvement in various dimensions of participation, including oversight and processes of governance. New Zealand’s mixed performance suggests that elected boards may need to be complemented with other participatory channels, if increased public participation is the goal
Business · Citizen journalism · Corporate governance · Democracy · Participatory budgeting · Political science · Politics · Public participation · Public relations · Public service · Turnout · Voting · Healthcare Quality and Management · Law · Nursing Education, Practice, and Leadership · Public Administration · Public Policy and Administration Research
Lay Participation in Health Care Decision Making
The snakes and ladders of user involvement
Strong Democracy
Patient and public involvement
Lay perceptions of the desired role and type of user involvement in clinical governance
Ordinary and effective
From rhetoric to reality
A Ladder Of Citizen Participation
Going Postal
Primary Care Trusts
Where there's a will, is there a way
The meaning of patient involvement and participation in health care consultations
The public is too subjective
Representativeness, legitimacy and power in public involvement in health-service management
| Unique citing works | 1 |
|---|---|
| Citations per year | 0,08 |
| Citation span | 2014 - 2014 (1) |
| Citation velocity | historical |
| Highly cited | No |
| Citation types | Neutral: 1 |