There is no doubt that the public want more responsive public sector services and to see more choice (of provider and of services) as a way of getting them. And they also want high universal standards, not a postcode lottery. The opinion polls say so. But the debate which started some time ago over whether greater choice is the right approach to improving public services still continues, partly because the two sides seem stuck in entrenched positions with little movement into the no man's land between them.
The rhetoric is either expanding choice will help public services improve and become more responsive to users and more efficient; or choice may be fine in theory, but it will be expensive, offer poor value for money, will result in greater inequity, and may be divisive. It is time to move from rhetoric to reality. We all want more responsive, personalised services. Choice is potentially an important way of getting there but it can not be unlimited either in its scope or use. We need to address the real challenges.
- being clear on the relative value of the particular type of choice available to the public and users; its cost and whether we are prepared to pay for it
- ensuring that greater choice is matched with greater fairness
- clarity about the real practical barriers to expanding choice and how to overcome them
- managing the limitations of choice in producing more responsive services