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Professor Steve Harrison PhD, AcSS

Photograph of Steve Harrison

Professor of Social Policy

Health Policy, Politics & Organisation Research Group
School of Community-based Medicine
University of Manchester
Williamson Building
Oxford Road
Manchester M13 9PL

 

Role

Steve Harrison has an honorary Chair appointment at the University of Manchester, continuing to work with the Health Policy, Politics and Organisation (HiPPO) group of researchers that investigates:

  • How different formal and informal characteristics of primary care organisation relate to outcomes that are of policy interest, including effectiveness, efficiency, service innovation, user responsiveness and public opinion
  • How wider organisational innovations and other contextual changes in the National Health Service impact on primary care

He is also associated with the new Department of Health Policy Research Unit in Commissioning and the Healthcare System (PRUComm).

 

Memberships of Committees and Professional Bodies

  • Elected Academician, Academy of Social Sciences
  • Member of Political Studies Association
  • Member of Social Policy Association

Research

Steve Harrison's research has pursued two broad lines of investigation, sometimes linking the two and often with a strong interest in history.  The first consists of macro level questions such as how health 'policy' is made, how health institutions are organised.  The second line of investigation, relates to the meso and micro levels, including such matters as organisational incentives and 'performance' management, professional autonomy, health care rationing/prioritisation, local managerial strategies in relation to the professions and the public, new health technologies, labour relations, the scientific knowledge base of medicine and health professionals' constructions of 'risk'. He is currently involved the following projects:
 

  • Practice-based commissioning (PBC), which offers indicative budgets to GPs, is intended to generate greater GP participation in the redesign of services in order to offer a greater variety of higher quality and more conveniently located services to patients, whilst allowing greater efficiency and tackling inequalities. In the first year of this 27 month project, we conducted a questionnaire survey of English PCT which showed that most PBC is undertaken through consortia of practices rather than individual GPs. We also conducted extensive ethnographic research in 5 'early adopter' consortia (in 3 PCTs) in which we found some evidence of GP willingness to scrutinise peer performance, to develop new services for patients, and to design new patient pathways. We also found that relationships with acute Trusts were often difficult, and there was little explicit focus on inequality or public/ patient engagement. Further case studies, which will include the interaction between PBC and Alternative Provider Medical Services, are planned for 2008-09. We are also about to start a quantitative analysis of PBC, jointly with colleagues at the University of York, using HES data to examine the impact of PBC on practice patterns of commissioning (what they purchase and who they purchase it from)
  • In conjunction with colleagues from The University of Manchester's Oral Health Unit and School of Pharmacy we are studying the impact of incentives on the behaviour and performance of primary care professionals, a combined quantitative and qualitative study which is undertaking a comparison of contractual incentives in general medical practice, general dental practice and community pharmacy over a 3 year period
  • Cultural change in NHS organisations: understanding the dynamics. Jointly with colleagues at the University of York and elsewhere, this combined quantitative and qualitative study is examining for the first time the longitudinal relationship between organisational culture and performance in primary and secondary NHS care. Data are also being collected from organisational levels below top management and a series of qualitative case studies are being undertaken. Early quantitative data analysis confirms that longitudinal changes in reported culture have indeed occurred.
  • Performance indicators in the UK and Netherlands health sectors 1982-2006: in this ESRC-funded study, involving colleagues from Erasmus Univerity, Rotterdam and the Catholic University of Leuven, we are examining the way in which health system performance indicators have developed over time and how this can be explained in theoretical terms
 

Biography

Steve Harrison was Professor of Health Policy and Politics at the University of Leeds before coming to Manchester as Professor of Social Policy in 2000. He was Head of Applied Social Science 2003-04 and on the creation of the new University in 2004 became Head of the Governance, Representation and Public Policy Group in the new School of Social Sciences. He has maintained close links with NPCRDC ever since his arrival in Manchester and in September 2005 joined NPCRDC's staff on a full-time secondment until 2010.

Steve is a political scientist whose empirical work has encompassed both national-level policy making and local level policy making, implementation and impact in the NHS. He has also undertaken numerous evaluation studies and is responsible for the development of concepts such as 'diplomatic management' and 'scientific-bureaucratic medicine'. His substantive research topics have included medical-managerial relationships in the NHS, the politics of 'evidence-based medicine', the implementation of clinical guidelines in primary care, public and service user participation in NHS decision making, professional understanding of 'risk' and the maintenance of professional work boundaries.

Steve has produced more than 250 publications and has been principal or co-investigator in some £4 million of research projects since 1978. His work is widely cited. He was elected Academician of the Academy of Social Sciences in 2002, and has been a Trustee of Arc, the Arthritis Research Campaign and a member of the Methodology Group of the NHS National R&D Programme.

Steve lives in the Pennines with his partner, textile artist and costume maker Annie Dearman. Away from work he is an active folk musician with the barn dance band The Black Box Band (specialising in traditional English music), the European roots band Official Brawl, and the traditional vocal trio Dearman Gammon and Harrison whose CD Black Crow/ White Crow was released by the English Folk Dance and Song Society in 2005. Annie and Steve are residents at the Ryburn 3 Step Folk Club near Ripponden. Steve is a member of the Long Company.

 

Qualifications

  • BSc (Econ), London
  • MPhil, Warwick
  • PhD, Bristol
 

Publications

2009

  • Coleman A, Harrison S, Checkland K. (2009). Still puzzling: Patient and Public involvement in Commissioning. Journal of Integrated Care 17, 17(6), 23-30. eScholarID:1d33053 | DOI:10.1108/14769018200900043
  • McDonald ER, Checkland KH, Harrison SR, Coleman A. (2009). Rethinking collegiality: Restratification in English General Medical Practice 2004-2008. Social Science and Medicine, 68, 1199-1205. eScholarID:1d18249 | DOI:10.1016/j.socscimed.2009.01.042

2008

  • Harrison SR, McDonald ER. (2008). The Politics of Healthcare in Britain. Sage. eScholarID:4d193
  • Checkland KH, Harrison SR, McDonald ER, Suzanne Grant, Campbell SM, Bruce Guthrie. (2008). Biomedicine, holism and general medical practice: responses to the 2004 General Practitioner contract. Sociology of Health and Illness, 30, eScholarID:1d17643 | DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9566.2008.01081.x
  • Coleman A, Harrison SR, Checkland KH. (2008). Health scrutiny and Practice-based commissioning: contradictory or complementary? Journal of Integrated Care, 16(5), 18-21. eScholarID:1d32901 | DOI:10.1108/14769018200800036
  • McDonald ER, Harrison SR, Checkland KH. (2008). Identity, contract and enterprise in a primary care setting: an English general practice case study. Organization, 15, eScholarID:1d17090
  • McDonald ER, Harrison SR, Checkland KH. (2008). Incentives and control in primary health care: findings from English Pay for Performance case studies. Journal of Health Organisation and Management, 1, eScholarID:1d17175
  • Sanders T, Harrison SR, Checkland KH. (2008). Evidence-based medicine and patient choice: the case of heart failure care. J Health Serv Res Policy, 13( 2), eScholarID:1d21193 | DOI:10.1258/jhsrp.2008.007130

2007

  • Coleman A, Harrison SR. (2007). Nothing new under the sun: Regimes in public representation in the English National Health Service: Past present and future. Health policy and politics. eScholarID:3d938
  • Checkland KH, Harrison SR, Marshall MN. (2007). Is the metaphor of 'barriers to change' useful in understanding implementation? Evidence from general medical practice. J Health Serv Res Policy, 12, No 2, eScholarID:1d16149
  • Checkland KH, McDonald ER, Harrison SR. (2007). Ticking boxes and changing the social world: Data collection and the new UK general practice contract. Social Policy and Administration, 41, 693-710. eScholarID:1d16653
  • McDonald ER, Harrison SR, Checkland KH, Campbell SM, Roland M. (2007). Impact of financial incentives on clinical autonomy and internal motivation in primary care: ethnographic study. BMJ, eScholarID:1d15854
  • Waring JJ, Harrison SR, McDonald ER. (2007). A culture of safety or coping? ritualistic behaviours in the operating theatre. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 12, 3-9. eScholarID:1d15622

2006

  • Coleman A, Harrison SR. (2006). Health Scrutiny: past and future. Frontline: University of Manchester National Primary Care Research and Development Centre, 21, eScholarID:1d32909
  • Harrison, S., Waring, JJ, McDonald, R. (2006). Rules, safety and the narrativisation of identity: a hospital operating theatre case study. Sociology of Health and Illness, 28(2), 178-202. eScholarID:1b4069 | DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9566.2006.00487.x
  • J Waring, McDonald ER, Harrison SR. (2006). Safety and complexity. Inter-departmental relationships as a threat to patient safety in the operating department. Journal of Health Organisation and Management, 3, 227-42. eScholarID:1d15251
  • McDonald ER, Waring JJ, Harrison SR. (2006). At the cutting edge? Modernisation and nostalgia in a hospital operating theatre department. Sociology, 40(6), 1097-1115. eScholarID:1d11788 | DOI:10.1177/0038038506069851
  • McDonald ER, Waring JJ, Harrison SR. (2006). Rules, safety and the narrativization of identity: a hospital operating theatre case study. Sociology of Health and Illness, eScholarID:1d11784 | DOI:10.1111/j.1467-9566.2006.00487.x

2005

  • McDonald ER, Waring JJ, Harrison SR, Walshe K, Boaden R. (2005). Rules and guidelines in clinical practice: a qualitative study in operating theatres of doctors' and nurses' views. Qual Saf Health Care, eScholarID:1d11786
  • McDonald ER, Waring JJ, Harrison SR. (2005). Balancing risk, that is my life: the politics of risk in a hospital operating theatre department. Health, Risk and Society, eScholarID:1d11789

2004

  • Clarke, K., Harrison, S. (2004). Governing Health and Social Care. In Stoker, G. Wilson, D (Ed.), British Local Government into the 21st Century. London: Palgrave Macmillan. eScholarID:3b701
  • Checkland KH, Harrison SR. (2004). Policy implementation in practice: the case of national service frameworks in general practice. J Tissue Viability, 14( 4), 133-6. eScholarID:1d29355
  • Harrison SR, Smith C. (2004). Trust and moral motivation; redundant resources in health and social care? Policy and Politics, 370-385. eScholarID:1d32944
  • Harrison, S., McDonald, R. (2004). The Micropolitics of Clinical Guidelines: an Empirical Study. Policy and Politics, 32(2), 223-238. eScholarID:1b1438
  • McDonald ER, Harrison SR. (2004). The micropolitics of clinical guidelines: an empirical study. Policy and Politics, 223-239. eScholarID:1d9787
  • McDonald R, Harrison SR. (2004). Autonomy and Modernisation: the management of change in an English Primary Care Trust. Health and Social Care in the Community, 104-201. eScholarID:1d9789

2003

  • Dowswell, G., J Wright, J Reeves, E Warren, J Bibby, I Russell, D Russell, Harrison, S. (2003). Effectiveness of Multifaceted Implementation of Guidelines in Primary Care. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 8(3), 142-148. eScholarID:1b1435
  • Harrison SR, G Dowswell, J Wright, I Russell. (2003). General practitioners' uptake of clinical practice guidelines: a qualitative study. J Health Serv Res Policy, 149-153. eScholarID:1d32808
  • Harrison SR, Smith C. (2003). 'Neo-bureaucracy and public management: the case of medicine in the National Health Service'. Competition and Change, 7 (4), 243-54. eScholarID:1d33086
  • Harrison, S. (2003). Medical Autonomy and Managerial Authority in the National Health Service. Competition and Change, 7(4), 243-254. eScholarID:1b1437
  • Harrison, S., Dowswell, G., J Wright, I Russell. (2003). General Practitioners' Uptake of Clinical Practice Guidelines: a Qualitative Study. Journal of Health Services Research and Policy, 8(3), 149-153. eScholarID:1b1436 | DOI:10.1258/135581903322029494

2002

  • Bruce Wood, Harrison, S. (2002). tba. British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 4, No. 1, eScholarID:1b293
  • Dowswell, G., J Wright, Harrison, S. (2002). Practice Nurses and Clinical Guidelines in a Changing Primary Care Context: an Empirical Study. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 39(3), 1-10. eScholarID:1b1433
  • Dowswell, G., T Milewa, Harrison, S. (2002). Partnerships, Power and the New Politics of Community Participation in British Health Care. Social Policy and Administration, 36(7), 796-809. eScholarID:1b1434
  • Harrison SR, G Dowswell, J Wright. (2002). Practice nurses and clinical guidelines in a changing primary care context: an empirical study. J Adv Nurs, 299-307. eScholarID:1d33075
  • Harrison SR, G Dowswell. (2002). Autonomy and bureaucratic accountability in primary care: what English Practitioners say. Sociology of Health and Illness, 208-226. eScholarID:1d33255
  • Harrison SR, M Moran, B Wood. (2002). Policy emergence and policy convergence: the case of "scientific-bureaucratic medicine". British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 1-24. eScholarID:1d33074
  • Harrison SR. (2002). New labour, modernisation and the medical labour process. Journal of Social Policy, eScholarID:1d33024
  • Harrison, S. (2002). New Labour, modernisation and the medical labour process. Journal of Social Policy, 31(2), 465-485. eScholarID:1b1139 | DOI:10.1017/S0047279402006694
  • Harrison, S., Dowswell, G. (2002). Autonomy and bureaucratic accountability in primary care: what English General Practitioners say. Sociology of Health and Illness, 24(2), 208-226. eScholarID:1b1136 | DOI:10.1111/1467-9566.00291
  • Harrison, S., Dowswell, G., J Wright. (2002). The early days of primary care groups: General Practitioners' perceptions. Health and Social Care in the Community, 10(1), 46-54. eScholarID:1b1137
  • Harrison, S., Moran, M., Bruce Wood. (2002). Policy emergence and policy convergence: the case of scientific-bureaucratic medicine in the USA and UK. British Journal of Politics and International Relations, 4(1), 1-24. eScholarID:1b1138
  • Harrison, S., S Keen. (2002). Public health practitioners in NHS hospital trusts: the impact of medical care epidemiologists. Journal of Public Health Medicine, 24(1), 16-20. eScholarID:1b1140

2001

  • B Ferguson, A Franks, Harrison, S. (2001). Health Services Research. In Baker, M. Kirk, S (Ed.), Making Sense of Research and Development. Oxford: Radcliffe Medical Press. eScholarID:3b526
  • Harrison, S. (2001). Managing demand in the UK National Health Service. In Clark, C. McEldowney, R (Ed.), The Health Care Financial Crisis: Strategies for Overcoming an Unholy Trinity. Huntington, New York: Nova Science Publishers. eScholarID:3b527
  • Harrison, S. (2001). Policy Analysis. In Fulop, N. Allen, P. Clarke, A. Black, N (Ed.), Studying the Organisation and Delivery of Health Services. London: Routledge. eScholarID:3b528
  • Harrison, S. (2001). Right a bit more. Health Matters, 44, 5-7. eScholarID:1b1135
  • Harrison, S., A Gray. (2001). Clinical governance in the NHS. special edition of Journal of Management in Medicine, 15(3), eScholarID:1b1133
  • Harrison, S., Dowswell, G., J Wright. (2001). Clinical guidelines: attitudes, information processes and culture in English primary care. International Journal of Health Planning and, 16(2), 107-124. eScholarID:1b1132
  • Harrison, S., P Rhodes, A Nocon, J Wright. (2001). Involving patients in research: setting up a service users' advisory group. Journal of Management in Medicine, 15(2), 167-171. eScholarID:1b1131
  • Harrison, S., T Milewa. (2001). Group dynamics. Health Service Journal, 26, 32-33. eScholarID:1b1134

2000

  • Dowswell, G., Harrison, S. (2000). The Selective Use by NHS Management of NICE-Promulgated Guidelines: a New and Effective Tool for Systematic Rationing of New Therapies?. In Miles, A. Hampton, J. Hurwitz, B (Ed.), NICE, CHI and the NHS Reforms: Enabling Excellence or Imposing Control?. London: Aesculapius Medical Press. eScholarID:3b697
  • Harrison, S. (2000). A third way to control health services? Health policy and the New Labour Comprehensive Spending Review. In Lee*, S. Mullard*, M (Ed.), Blair's Third Way. London: Macmillan. eScholarID:3b65
  • Harrison, S. (2000). New Labour, Modernisation and Health Care Governance. In McMillan*, J (Ed.), New Labour, New Health. Newcastle. eScholarID:3b66
  • Harrison, S. (2000). New Labour's health policy: a 'third way' to organise?. In Hann*, A (Ed.), Analysing Health Policy. Aldershot: Ashgate Publishing. eScholarID:3b64
  • Harrison, S. (2000). Policy Entrepreneurship in Action: the Contribution to Health and Social Care Policymaking of Sir Roy Griffiths. In Theakston*, K (Ed.), Bureaucrats and Leadership. London: Macmillan. eScholarID:3b63
  • Harrison, S. (2000). Structural interests in health care: 'Reforming' the UK medical profession. In Bovens, M. Peters, B. Hart, P (Ed.), Success and Failure in Government. Aldershot: Edward Elgar. eScholarID:3b67
  • Bruce Wood, Harrison, S. (2000). Medical care evaluation as health policy: the rise of 'scientific medicine' in the USA and UK. Policy Studies, eScholarID:1b7600
  • Harrison, S., W Ahmad*. (2000). Medical Autonomy and the UK State 1975 to 2025. Sociology, Vol. 34, pp. 129-146. eScholarID:1b224

1999

  • Moran, M., Harrison, S. (1999). Rationing: managing supply and demand in health care. In Albrecht, G. Fitzpatrick, R. Scrimshaw, S (Ed.), The Handbook of Social Studies in Health and Medicine. New York: Sage. eScholarID:3b828
  • Harrison, S., Bruce Wood. (1999). Designing Health Service Organisation in the UK, 1968-98: From Blueprint to Bright Idea and 'Manipulated Emergence'. Public Administration, 77, No. 4, 751-768. eScholarID:1b1592

1998

  • Harrison, S. (1998). The Politics of Evidence-Based Medicine in the UK. Policy and Politics, 26(1), pp.15-31. eScholarID:1b117
  • Harrison, S., M Mort*. (1998). Which Champions, Which People? Public and User Involvement as a Technology of Legitimation. Social Policy and Administration, 32(1), pp.60-70. eScholarID:1b118

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