The changing role of the regional tier of the NHS.

Reviews the past role of regional health authorities in the the British NHS and gives details of the recent changes to regions associated with the functions and responsibilities paper. Goes on to give details of the research project in which we are currently involved and reports on our interim findings (as of April 1996). In a final discussion section, reflects on those findings in terms of the evolving problems of influence and control in a national service operating in a devolved quasi-market.