Health service reform failures down to 'lack of leadership'

Repeated attempts to reform the health system have not worked for a string of reasons including a lack of leadership and a reluctance to change cultures and allegiances, according to a new study.

Repeated attempts to reform the health system have not worked for a string of reasons including a lack of leadership and a reluctance to change cultures and allegiances, according to a new study.

The study, part of a Health Research Board-funded project, looked at various strategy and planning documents over the past two decades, as well as 10 interviews with "elite respondents" who were involved in attempting to modernise the health service.