Power in the National Health Service: a case study of a unit considering NHS Trust status

There are a number of theoretical frameworks which aim to provide a language for understanding and discussing the nature of power and influence in organisational decision making. One of the most recent and comprehensive frameworks is that developed by Mintzberg. Following a resumé of the most pertinent sections of Mintzberg's framework, this paper uses it to investigate the power relationships in an NHS Mental Health Unit (MHU) considering NHS Trust status. This investigation reveals some important conclusions about the nature of power in the NHS but also explores some of the limitations of the framework as a descriptive and predictive tool.