MOTIVES AND BEHAVIOUR IN DISTRICT HEALTH AUTHORITIES

With the advent of general managers in District Health Authorities, many members fear they will become the dignified element of the health service constitution, if this has not happened already. If the influence of members is to be retained (or regained) a better understanding of the causes of variations in the influence and effectiveness of members is important. These issues are examined from the perspective of the motives and behaviour of members themselves. Based on research carried out in six health authorities in 1984, a typology is developed which is shown to be useful in predicting the kind of members most likely to achieve individual influence within a DHA, and in diagnosing some of the reasons for differences in corporate influence between DHAs.