Concepts of care is one of the first books to examine the shift in care theory and philosophy that has taken place in recent years. It discusses some of the core issues that affect nurses, social workers and other health care professionals in a changing health care environment. The meaning of care in professional work has been modified as professional practices adapt to increased responsibilities for rationing scarce resources, greater statutory duties and struggles over the balance between authority and accountability.



This title looks at aspects of caring in a competitive financial environment, caring as a managed professional practice, issues of professional power and the shift towards care in the community. The aim of the text is to stimulate debate and discussion, and it will be of particular use to undergraduates of nursing, midwifery, social work, social care and other related disciplines.



An international group of contributors, all recognised authorities in their own countries, address the themes and issues of care as they affect caring professionals in Europe, North America, Australasia and Asia. Topics include: policy as the expression of care at a social level; caring in a competitive financial environment; caring as a managed professional practice; care versus rights: the implications of consumerism and choice; professional power in various contexts; and care in the community level. It will stimulate debate and discussion amongst health and welfare professionals where the concept of care is central to their practice.