Gwyn Bevan is Emeritus Professor of Policy Analysis in the Department of Management at the LSE and an Affiliate Professor in the Istituto di Management of the Scuola Superiore Sant’Anna, Pisa. He has served on advisory committees to Secretary of State for Health in England, the Welsh Office, the Lord Chancellor’s Department, the Department of International Development, Her Majesty's Inspector of Constabulary, and the Assembly Government of Wales.

• 1. Introduction 2. Historical Perspective 3. Organisation and Management 4. The Processes of Resource Allocation 5. Planning Systems 6. Monitoring and Control 7. The Cost of Spending More 8. Allocating Resources Equitably 9. Planning Priorities 10. Alternative Financing 11. Effectiveness and Efficiency 12. Improving Organisation and Management 13. Conclusions.

'It is very useful...for people who wish to gain a general insight into the finances, organisation and management of the National Health Service over the period 1848-1979....(it) will be particularly valuable to people outside Britain who wish to know how the health service is managed...to specialist students (administrative, financial, nursing or medical) in Britain who want a thorough introduction to resource allocation in health care.' K. G. Wright, Social Science and Medicine.