News in brief: Choice may result in inequality

Government policies on choice and competition may actually result in ‘deterioration in the quality and cost-effectiveness of services,’ according to the DoH’s own research. The NHS Service and Delivery Organisation, working on behalf of the DoH, also found that choice may broaden inequities between user groups. Visit www.sdo.lshtm.ac.uk/files/adhoc/80-briefing-paper.pdf.