Strategic planning in the Scottish health service--a mixed-scanning approach

A programme of research into the development of effective planning processes for the Scottish health service has been undertaken. This has led to proposals that a mixed-scanning approach be developed with the aim of introducing more systematic and rational thinking in a way which is technically and politically realistic. This paper discusses these general proposals in outline and the basis on which they were designed; it also focuses on one of the key components--the concept of a scanning or review process--which will provide an overall appreciation of what has been happening within the health service and what the future could hold. The research is continuing but even at this stage the emerging concepts could be of wide relevance and interest.