In this paper a new framework for planning in the National Health Service is described. The approach is centred around the idea of providing adequate information for planning and decisionmaking. First the types of problems currently faced by District Health Authorities and the implications for planning are outlined. Five elements of the new planning structure are then described: an information system, model-based analysis, a communications system, performance indicators, and a super plan. It is then shown how a prototype system for an English health district can be built and some results of the analysis are presented.
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