Voice and choice in health care in England: Understanding citizen responses to dissatisfaction

Keith Dowding*, Peter John

*Corresponding author for this work

    Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

    33 Citations (Scopus)

    Abstract

    Using data from a five-year online survey the paper examines the effects of relative satisfaction with health services on individuals' voice-and-choice activity in the English public health care system. Voice is considered in three parts - individual voice (complaints), collective voice voting and participation (collective action). Exercising choice is seen in terms of complete exit (not using health care), internal exit (choosing another public service provider) and private exit (using private health care). The interaction of satisfaction and forms of voice and choice are analysed over time. Both voice and choice are correlated with dissatisfaction with those who are unhappy with the NHS more likely to privately voice and to plan to take up private health care. Those unable to choose private provision are likely to use private voice. These factors are not affected by items associated with social capital - indeed, being more trusting leads to lower voice activity.

    Original languageEnglish
    Pages (from-to)1403-1418
    Number of pages16
    JournalPublic Administration
    Volume89
    Issue number4
    DOIs
    Publication statusPublished - Dec 2011

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