Public, private, neither, both? Publicness theory and the analysis of healthcare organisations

In England recent health reforms have resulted in a shift of emphasis from targets to outcomes, and to the provision of healthcare by any willing provider. The outcomes described encompass clinical and public service outcomes such as choice and access. The range of organisations providing healthcare services is large and increasing. Whilst many are clearly located in either the public or private sectors, others have features of both public and private organisations, and are not easily characterised as either one or the other.