How the Sans Everything and Ely inquiries put reform of psychiatric hospitals onto the United Kingdom government agenda
International Journal of Health Governance
ISSN: 2059-4631
Article publication date: 1 June 2021
Issue publication date: 12 October 2021
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this study is to draw on multiple streams analysis (MSA) and to investigate how policy change emerged from two inquiries into allegations of abusive hospital care in National Health Service (NHS) hospitals in the United Kingdom (UK) in the 1960s.
Design/methodology/approach
The methodology of this study is regarding a historical case study of two inquiries.
Findings
The Sans Everything and Ely inquiries had the same legal standing and terms of reference, but the second put psychiatric hospital reform on the agenda, while the first did not. The main factor making Ely rather than Sans Everything the turning point seems to have been concerned with “agency”, linked with a few key individuals.
Research limitations/implications
A study of 1960s event necessarily relies heavily on documentary and archival sources, and cannot draw on interviews which are an important ingredient of many case studies.
Originality/value
The originality of the study is to examines inquiries, which have been largely neglected in MSA, despite their obvious potential role in placing issues on the agenda. Previous studies of MSA have devoted little attention to the ability of the media to provide the focus on “focusing events”.
Keywords
Citation
Powell, M. and Hilton, C. (2021), "How the
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited