The hospital medical superintendent in the Maltese health care system and the hospital unit general manager in the British health care system : contrasts and comparisons

Abstract

Health care managers in Britain, or administrators, as they are known in Malta, are a leading force in implementing health care programmes. Whether they succeed or not depends on various aspects. Using a compare-and-contrast approach this study interviews several of them in Malta and Britain and examines the difference between them. It takes into account the situational background involved since managerial behaviour is both a function of the persons involved and the surrounding situations. It discovers that although both the Maltese and the British are optimistic about recent government policies which are meant to encourage change, the Maltese have a longer way to go to uproot themselves from their current status quo situation. In the first chapter, the author evaluates the main issues, comments about present and future trends in health care, and explains the significance of this study. The second chapter deals with the health care situation in Malta and England. Health care administration in Malta is an offshoot of the British one with the ties between the two countries dating back many years when Malta was a British colony. However, during the latter part of this century Britain took a radical approach with regards to its health care programmes whereas Malta held firmly to tradition. In the third and fourth chapters, the author goes about interviewing British hospital unit general managers and Maltese hospital medical superintendents. In comparing and contrasting their answers, major differences surface in important areas such as management styles, quality standards and budget processes. The final chapter contains a summary of the differences and similarities observed. The author recommends support for the new governmental policies in both countries which offer a fresh approach for the health care profession, as well as suggests academic areas which deserve further attention in shaping the managers of the future. Finally, areas which deserve future research are proposed.