The Risks of Managing Uncertainty: The Limitations of Governance and Choice, and the Potential for Trust
Authors:
- 9 December 2009
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Cambridge University Press (CUP) in Social Policy and Society
- Vol. 9 (1) , 13-24
Abstract
The inherent problems and limitations of managing risk and uncertainty are examined in a salient case setting – the English NHS. The ‘dark-side’ of simply trusting professionals to pursue their own craft, as acknowledged by Sennett, has been politicised to under-gird an increased use of quasi-markets, via the choice agenda, and governance. It is argued that these alternatives to trust – price and control – are further dysfunctional still. The innate tendencies of governance, and therefore choice, to lose sight of patient care are even more pronounced than the fallibility of professionals. A new, qualified form of trust is proposed in resolution.Keywords
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