Calum Paton

Biography

Calum Paton holds an MA (PPE) and D.Phil. in Politics from Oxford University and an MPP (Master's in Public Policy) from the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has taught in Dundee and Oxford Universities and has been Assistant Secretary (Director) of the Nuffield Trust, London, before coming to Keele in 1986, becoming Professor of Health Policy in 1993 until his retirement in 2015.

Research and scholarship

Main research interests are: evaluation of health policy and health reform in England, the UK, Europe and the USA; the politics of health and public policy

Has published ten books on health politics and policy; public policy; political economy; and political theory. Many academic journal articles; public policy magazine and media articles.

Teaching

Director and principal lecturer and tutor, MBA Health Executive programme

Director, DBA Programme in Health (professional doctorate)

Teaches politics, public policy and health policy

Further information

Calum Paton (2016), The Politics of Health Policy Reform in the UK: England's Permanent Revolution, Palgrave Macmillan
Paton C (November 2006), New Labours State of Health: Political Economy, Public Policy and the NHS, Ashgate:
As well as being an academic in politics and health policy, Calum Paton is a perceptive analyst of today's NHS. He also chaired one of the UK's largest NHS hospital Trusts for five years. I believe that his assessment of the NHS is 'spot on' and that his honesty in 'speaking truth to power' is sorely needed' Dave Crowley, Chief Executive, University Hospital of North Staffs NHS Trust 2001-2005 and Director of Finance 1998-2001

' At last - a book by a respected political scientist that not only exposes the policy paradoxes at the heart of New Labour's health reforms but also demolishes their very rationale. Those seeking to understand how we have ended up in this sorry mess will find solace here' David J Hunter, Professor of Health Policy and Management School for Health, Durham University, UK.

Consultant and adviser to the WHO, the EU and DFID

Has advised political parties.

Frequent media commentator, national and local.

Selected Publications

Paton C. Learning lessons about lesson-learning: Covid complexity. Health Economics, Policy and Law, 1-7. link> doi> link>
Paton C. 2021. 'We did everything we could': An account of toxic leadership. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Article hpm.3264. doi> link> full text>
Paton C. 2021. 'There's the end of an auld sang': Farewell to the NHS market. International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 1392-1396, vol. 36(5). link> doi> link> full text>
Paton C. 2020. World-beating? Testing Britain's Covid response and tracing the explanation. Health Economics, Policy and Law, 1-8. link> doi> link> full text>
Paton C. 2020. Insouciance and inexperience: A deadly combination when dealing with COVID-19. International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 983-987, vol. 35(5). link> doi> link> full text>

Full Publications Listshow

Books

PATON CR. 2006. New Labour's State of Health: Political Economy, Public Policy and the NHS. Ashgate.
Paton CR. The Politics of Health Policy Reform in the UK: England's Permanent Revolution. Palgrave Macmillan.

Journal Articles

Paton C. Learning lessons about lesson-learning: Covid complexity. Health Economics, Policy and Law, 1-7. link> doi> link>
Paton C. 2021. 'We did everything we could': An account of toxic leadership. The International Journal of Health Planning and Management, Article hpm.3264. doi> link> full text>
Paton C. 2021. 'There's the end of an auld sang': Farewell to the NHS market. International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 1392-1396, vol. 36(5). link> doi> link> full text>
Paton C. 2020. World-beating? Testing Britain's Covid response and tracing the explanation. Health Economics, Policy and Law, 1-8. link> doi> link> full text>
Paton C. 2020. Insouciance and inexperience: A deadly combination when dealing with COVID-19. International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 983-987, vol. 35(5). link> doi> link> full text>
Paton C. 2018. Editorial. Int J Health Plann Manage, 767, vol. 33(4). link> doi>
Paton C. 2018. Editorial. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, 559, vol. 33(3). link> doi>
Paton C. 2018. EDITORIAL-the NHS at 70: National treasure or threadbare antique?. Int J Health Plann Manage, 291-293, vol. 33(2). link> doi>
Paton CR. 2017. Editorial for 32:1. Int J Health Plann Manage, 3, vol. 32(1). link> doi>
Paton CR. 2014. The politics and analytics of health policy. Int J Health Policy Manag, 105-107, vol. 2(3). link> doi>
Paton C. 2014. Health services research and health policy. Int J Health Plann Manage, 214-217, vol. 29(2). link> doi>
Paton C. 2014. Of paradigms and precipitate relativism: Kuhn and the social sciences. J Health Serv Res Policy, 118-120, vol. 19(2). link> doi>
Paton C. 2013. Never say never again: re-forming and deforming the NHS. Health Econ Policy Law, 243-249, vol. 8(2). link> doi>
Paton CR. 2013. Disciplining Health Policy? Explaining health policy by reference to...what?. Journal of Health Economics Policy and Law, 397-405, vol. 8(3). doi>
Paton CR. 2013. Never say never again? Reforming and deforming the NHS. Journal of Health Economics Policy and Law, vol. 8(2).
Paton C. 2012. The BJGP response. BRITISH JOURNAL OF GENERAL PRACTICE, 237-238, vol. 62(598). link> doi>
Paton CR. 2012. Competition and Integration: the NHS Future Forum's confused consensus. British Journal of General Practice, 116-117, vol. 62(596). doi>
Paton C. 2011. Mays N, Dixon A and Jones L (eds), Understanding New Labour's Market Reforms of the English NHS, King's Fund, London, 2011, XVI + 194 pp., ISBN: 978 1 85717 626 1 (ppbk). Int J Health Plann Manage, 484-487, vol. 26(4). doi>
Paton C. 2010. The New Politics of the NHS: From Creation to Reinvention, 6th edition. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, 419-420, vol. 25(4). link> doi>
Paton C. 2010. A Reader in Health Policy and Management. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, 195-196, vol. 25(2). link> doi>
Paton C. 2010. Personal View We could eschew "UK style" rationing here too. BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, Article ARTN c1136, vol. 340. link> doi>
Paton C. 2010. We could eschew "UK style" rationing here too. BMJ, c1136, vol. 340. link> doi>
Paton C. 2010. Commissioning in the English NHS. BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, Article ARTN c1979, vol. 340. link> doi>
PATON C. 1995. EVALUATING THE NHS REFORMS - ROBINSON,R, LEGRAND,J. JOURNAL OF SOCIAL POLICY, 133-136, vol. 24. link> doi>
PATON CR. 1988. RESOURCE-ALLOCATION IN THE HEALTH-SERVICE - MAYS,N, BEVAN,G. JOURNAL OF SOCIAL POLICY, 241-243, vol. 17. link> doi>
Paton C. 2009. Fads, Fallacies and Foolishness in Medical Care Management and Policy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, 87-90, vol. 24(1). link> doi>
Paton C. 2008. An Introduction to Health Planning for Developing Health Systems, 3rd edition. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, 401-403, vol. 23(4). link> doi>
Paton C. 2008. Rewarding provider performance (Aligning incentives in medicare). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, 83-84, vol. 23(1). link> doi>
Paton C. 2007. Politics over economics, fist over hand. Health Econ Policy Law, 337-339, vol. 2(Pt 3). link> doi>
PATON CR. 2007. Visible hand or invisible fist?: the new market and choice in the English NHS. Health Economics Policy and Law, 317-325, vol. 2(3). doi>
Paton C. 2007. 'He who rides a tiger can never dismount': six myths about NHS 'reform' in England. Int J Health Plann Manage, 97-111, vol. 22(2). link> doi>
Paton C. 2007. Comment (debate): primary care organizations and health systems. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, 21-24, vol. 22(1). link> doi>
Paton C. 2007. Untitled. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, 95, vol. 22(2). link> doi>
PATON CR. 2006. Anti-social science: social science as oxymoron. Journal of Humanities, vol. 2(3).
PATON CR. 2006. Going Private?. Hospital.
PATON CR. 2005. Open Letter to Patricia Hewitt. Health Service Journal.
PATON CR. 2004. Open Space. Health Service Journal.
Paton C. 2001. The European Union and health policy. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF HEALTH PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT, 369-370, vol. 16(4). link> doi>
Jinks C, Ong BN, Paton C. 2001. Mobile medics: the mobility of doctors in the european economic area. Health Policy.
PATON CR. 2001. The state in health: global capitalism, conspiracy, cock-up and competitive change in the NHS. Public Policy and Administration, vol. 16(4).
Jinks C, Ong BN, Paton C. 2000. Mobile medics? The mobility of doctors in the European Economic Area. Health Policy, 45-64, vol. 54(1). link> doi>
Paton C. 1999. Commentary on 'intellectual mercenaries and the public interest: Management consultants and the NHS'. POLICY AND POLITICS, 467-470, vol. 27(4). link> doi>
Jinks C, Ong BN, Paton C. 1998. Workforce planning. Catching the drift. Health Serv J, 24-26, vol. 108(5622). link>
Paton C. 1997. Necessary conditions for a socialist health service. Health Care Anal, 205-216, vol. 5(3). link> doi>
Paton C, Birch K, Hunt K, Jordan K, Durose J. 1997. NHS reforms. Counting the costs. Health Serv J, 24-27, vol. 107(5567). link>
Paton C. 1995. Labour policy. Change is as good as a rest. Health Serv J, 24-25, vol. 105(5460). link>
Paton C. 1995. Present dangers and future threats: some perverse incentives in the NHS reforms. BMJ, 1245-1248, vol. 310(6989). link> doi>
Paton C. 1995. Market regulation. Contriving competition. Health Serv J, 30-31, vol. 105(5446). link>
PATON C. 1993. DEVOLUTION AND CENTRALISM IN THE NATIONAL-HEALTH-SERVICE. SOCIAL POLICY & ADMINISTRATION, 83-108, vol. 27(2). link> doi>
Paton C. 1993. Health policy and management: the case study method. J Health Adm Educ, 387-395, vol. 11(3). link>
Paton C. 1992. Soured dream. Health Serv J, 20-23, vol. 102(5303). link>
PATON CR. 1992. PROBLEMS OF THE NHS REFORMS. BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, 918, vol. 304(6831). link> doi>
Paton CR. 1991. The health service and the general election. BMJ, 405-407, vol. 303(6799). link> doi>
Paton C. 1991. Myths of competition. Health Serv J, 22-23, vol. 101(5254). link>
PATON CR. 1991. CHANGES TO THE NHS. BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, 1024-1025, vol. 302(6783). link> doi>
Paton CR. 1989. Perestroika in the Soviet Union's health system. BMJ, 45-46, vol. 299(6690). link> doi>
PATON CR. 1989. OFFICE-OF-ECONOMIC-OPPORTUNITY - USA. SOCIAL POLICY & ADMINISTRATION, 92-98, vol. 23(1). link> doi>
PATON C. 1989. NHS REVIEW. BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, 747, vol. 298(6675). link> doi>
PATON C. 1989. NHS WHITE-PAPER. LANCET, 558, vol. 1(8637). link>
PATON CR. 1989. MEDICAL TESTING AND HEALTH-INSURANCE. BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, 134-135, vol. 298(6667). link> doi>
PATON C. 1989. PRIVATE HEALTH-CARE. BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, 12, vol. 298(6665). link>
PATON CR. 1988. TROUBLE WITH HEALTH MAINTENANCE ORGANIZATIONS - NO PANACEA FOR EITHER BRITAIN OR THE UNITED-STATES. BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, 934-935, vol. 297(6654). link> doi>
PATON C. 1988. NHS 1948-88 - LESS IDEOLOGY, MORE HUMANITY. BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL, 358-359, vol. 297(6644). link> doi>

Chapters

Paton CR. 2011. NHS Confidential: Implementation...or how great expectations in Whitehall are dashed in Stoke-on-Trent. In Shaping Health Policy: Case Study Methods and Analysis. Exworthy M, Peckham S, Powell M, Hann A (Eds.). Policy Press. doi>
Paton CR. 2011. The USA: Heath Policy and Social Security. In The USA and Canada 2012. London: Routledge.
Paton CR. 2010. ‘A New Beginning for Health Policy? The Continuing Story of Health and Welfare in the USA’. Taylor Francis.
Paton CR. 2009. Blair and the NHS: Resistible Force Meets Moveable Object?. In The Blair Legacy: Politics, Policy, Governance, and Foreign Affairs. Casey T (Ed.). Houndmills: Palgrave Macmillan. doi>
Paton CR. 2008. Health Policy: Overview. In International Encyclopaedia of Public Health. Heggenhougen K and Quah S (Eds.). San Diego: Academic Press.
Paton CR. 2008. ‘New Labour’s Health Policy: Assessing the Blair Years’,. In Modernising the Welfare State: The Blair Legacy. Policy Press.
Paton CR. 2008. ‘The NHS After New Labour – Healthier than New Labour?’. In Britain After Blair. Macmillan.
PATON CR. 2007. In a complicated state: health and welfare policy in the USA. In The USA and Canada. Francis T (Ed.). London: Europa.
PATON CR. 2007. The politics of NHS deficits and NHS Re-form. In Health Policy and Politics. Hann A (Ed.). Aldershot: Ashgate.
PATON CR. 2005. Future Health Organizations. In The State of the Healthcare System in England. Sausman C and Dawson S (Eds.). Palgrave.
PATON CR, Whitney D, Cowpe J. 2005. Medical leadership: doctors, the state and prospects for improvement. In Clinical Leadership: A Book of Readings. Edmonstone J (Ed.). Chichester: Kingsham.
PATON CR. 2005. The state of health. In Future Health organisations and systems. Dawson S and Sausman C (Eds.). Basingstoke: Palgrave.
Paton C. 2004. Health. In Political Issues in the World Today. Maciver D (Ed.). Manchester University Press, Manchester.
Paton C. 2004. In a complicated state: health policy in the USA. In The USA and Canada. Europa, London.
PATON CR. 2002. Checks and cheques: evaluating New Labour's Health Policy. In Evaluating New Labour's Welfare Reforms. Powell M (Ed.). Bristol: Policy Press.
Ong BN and Paton C. 2002. Scenaries on the future mobility of doctors and nurses. In The European Union and Health Services. The Impact of the Single European Market on Member States. Busse R, Wismon M, Bermon PE (Eds.). 105 press, amsterdam.
Ong BN, Paton C, Bermon P, et A. 2002. The European Union and Health Services. In The European Union and Health Services. The Impact of the Single European Market on Member States. Busse R, Wismon M, Bermon PE (Eds.). 105 press, amsterdam.
PATON CR. 2002. The European Union and Health Services: Summary. In The Impact of the Single European Market on Member States. Berman P, Busse R, Wismar M (Eds.). European Healthcare Management Association .
Jinks C, Ong BN, Paton C. 2002. The Mobility of Doctors & Nurses - A United Kingdom case study. In The European Union & Health Services. The Impact of the Single European Market on Member States. Busse R, Wisamn M, Bermon PE (Eds.). 105 press, amsterdam.

Other

Paton CR. 2012. Back to the future for the NHS.
Paton CR. 2011. Health reform - the government's albatross?.
Paton CR. 2011. In the market for what's best for the NHS.
Paton CR. 2011. From the sublime tot the ridiculous in the Health Bill.
Paton CR. 2011. Radical reform or a poisoned chalice?.
Paton CR. 2011. Are GPs ready to put their neck in the noose?.
Paton CR. 2010. Radical change - or flogging the same old NHS nags?.
Paton CR. 2010. Asking the right question.
Paton CR. 2010. NHS reform - it's Groundhog Day in full swing.
Paton CR. 2010. What we still need to know about Stafford.
Paton CR. 2010. Cutting the Bull****.

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Professor Calum Paton