Healthcare in Northern Ireland, 1921–73

This book focuses on the policies, politics and management of health care in Northern Ireland from 1921 to 1973. It explores the development of Northern Irish health care from its highly localist and fragmented origins to the most centrally managed system within the National Health Service. At the core of this analysis is an exploration of the interest groups that were progenitors of change or, conversely, strongly resisted reform. The work looks at poor law, municipal and voluntary provision in the interwar years. The 1940s is focused on, including the experience of war and Northern Ireland’s involuntary adoption of the welfare state. The discussion on the post-war decades assesses the relationship between health and politics. It also identifies how modernising technocratic and managerialist policies of the Terence O’Neill administration fragmented unionist health policy in the lead-up to the Troubles. Overall, this book offers original insights into Northern Irish health care, politics and history.