Professor Rob Baggott

Job: Professor

Faculty: Business and Law

School/department: Leicester Castle Business School

Research group(s): Health Policy Research Unit

Address: De Montfort University, The Gateway, Leicester, LE1 9BH.

T: +44 (0)116 257 7789

E: rbaggott@dmu.ac.uk

W: www.dmu.ac.uk/pol

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Personal profile

Rob Baggott is Professor of Public Policy at De Montfort University.His expertise is in the field of health policy, the NHS, public health, and patient and public involvement. He was previously the Director of the Health Policy Research Unit, between 1999 and 2017.

Research group affiliations

Local Governance Research Centre

Health Policy Research Unit

Publications and outputs

Hard currency, solidarity and soft power? The motives, implications and lessons of Cuban Health Internationalism
Hard currency, solidarity and soft power? The motives, implications and lessons of Cuban Health Internationalism Baggott, Rob; Lambie, George This article explores Cuba’s health assistance and support for other countries. It explores the rationale and motivations for Cuba’s internationalism in health. It then details the various aspects of its health interventions, including emergency relief, strengthening of health systems, treatment programs, training of health professionals, engagement in multilateral cooperation, and biotechnology. The article analyzes the benefits of Cuba’s health internationalism for Cuba and for others. It also explores potential adverse consequences and criticisms of Cuba’s approach. The article concludes by noting that Cuba has been ahead of the game in integrating foreign policy and health policy and that its experience may hold lessons for other countries seeking to develop global health strategies.
Representing Whom? UK Health Consumer and Patients' Organizations in the Policy Process
Representing Whom? UK Health Consumer and Patients' Organizations in the Policy Process Baggott, Rob; Jones, Kathryn L. This paper draws on nearly two decades of research on health consumer and patients’ organizations (HCPOs) in the United Kingdom. In particular it addresses questions of representation and legitimacy in the health policy process. HCPOs claim to represent the collective interests of patients and others such as relatives and carers. At times they also make claims to represent the wider public interest. Employing Pitkin’s classic typology of formalistic, descriptive, symbolic and substantive representation, the paper explores how and in what sense HCPOs represent their constituencies. We found that policy makers themselves are less concerned with formal mechanisms adopted by groups and are more concerned with credibility, in particular whether HCPOs carry the confidence of their constituents. While some concerns about legitimacy remain, particularly in relation to funding from commercial interests, we argue that HCPOs bring a unique perspective to the policy process and to focus purely on formalistic representation provides only a partial understanding of their representative role and a constrained view of their collective moral claims. The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version.
Enticing case study or celebrated anomaly? Policy learning from the Cuban health system
Enticing case study or celebrated anomaly? Policy learning from the Cuban health system Baggott, Rob; Lambie, George Abstract Cuba is regarded as having achieved very good health outcomes for its level of economic development. It has adopted policies and programmes that focus on prevention, universal access to healthcare, a strong primary care system, the integration of health in all policies, and public participation in health. It has also established a strong and accessible system of medical education and provides substantial medical aid and support to other countries. Why then, it may be asked, has the Cuban experience not had greater influence on health policies and reforms elsewhere? This article, based on a literature review and new primary sources, analyses various factors highlighted in the policy transfer literature in order to explain this. It also notes other factors that have created greater awareness of Cuban health achievements in some countries and which provide a basis for learning lessons from its policies. The file attached to this record is the author's final peer reviewed version. The Publisher's final version can be found by following the DOI link.
Health Policy and the Coalition Government
Health Policy and the Coalition Government Baggott, Rob The chapter explores the development of health policy under the Coalition Government in England between 2010-15. It examines the legacy of New Labour's policies. It focuses on the processes of policy development and in particular on conflict and consensus between the Coalition partners. It also examines the record of the Coalition and its key reforms.
Care and the Vote
Care and the Vote Thompson, Ed; Kaur, Ramanjeet; Baggott, Rob; Scullion, Jane The right to vote is seen as a pillar of modern democracies and a component of a ‘good life’ of social participation. In the UK that right is extended to all adults unless they have been convicted of an offence in perverting democracy or are a prisoner. However it is possible that other barriers exist to prevent people from voting. This pilot research has investigated how democratic rights have been exercised by those in residential and nursing care – homes in Leicester and Leicestershire serve as a population. Citizens in such institutions often suffer from conditions which may affect their mental capacity, as well as making them particularly vulnerable to political decisions and policy changes. Following the 2015 general election each of the homes (n=272) was invited to take part in a telephone survey: 122 (45%) responded. Initial results suggest a significant difference in turnout exists between the population of care and nursing homes in comparison to the population average. Despite mental capacity having no bearing on voting rights, results from the survey indicate that many homes have considered residents’ capacity before allowing them to vote. Other possible barriers are discussed. The findings present significant avenues for future research. Firstly, there is a need for larger studies toward nationally representative figures. Secondly, it raises policy questions about how those in care in the UK are, or can be, enabled to vote. Finally, it has revealed that methods used for capacity testing in care and nursing homes are often improvised with little or no legal or medical foundation.
Understanding Health Policy 2nd edition
Understanding Health Policy 2nd edition Baggott, Rob This full updated edition of a best selling book explores the processes and institutions that make health policy, examining what constitutes health policy, where power lies, and what changes could be made to improve the quality of health policy making. Drawing on original research and a wide range of secondary sources, the book examines the role of various institutions in the formation and implementation of health policy. This edition has been fully updated to include an analysis of the later years of New Labour and the Coalition government.
The Voluntary Sector and Health Policy: the role of national level health consumer and patients’ organisations in the UK
The Voluntary Sector and Health Policy: the role of national level health consumer and patients’ organisations in the UK Baggott, Rob; Jones, Kathryn L. Article explores the policy role of Health consumer and patients' organisations. Based on research findings fro two surveys, the article examines the activities, resources and contacts of HCPOs. It also assess their impact on health policy and reform.
The Big Society in an age of austerity: threats and opportunities for Health Consumer and Patients' Organizations in England
The Big Society in an age of austerity: threats and opportunities for Health Consumer and Patients' Organizations in England Baggott, Rob; Jones, Kathryn L.
Reliable surgical site infection surveillance with robust validation is required
Reliable surgical site infection surveillance with robust validation is required Tanner, Judith; Kiernan, Martin; Leaper, David; Baggott, Rob We would like to thank Lamagni and her colleagues from the Health Protection Agency for their interest in our paper. While they state in their letter that post discharge surveillance (PDS) is not used for benchmarking, and therefore Trusts which conduct PDS are not penalised, we should like to point out that inconsistencies were also found among in-patient and readmission data which are used for benchmarking .Therefore Trusts could be penalised. They also claim that the national surveillance programme, which collects in-patient and readmission data, produces reliable data. However, one of the authors of the Lamagni letter appears to contradict this in the January 2013 edition of the Journal of Infection Prevention (JIP)1. In the JIP article, Wilson discusses various data collection methods, such as prospective, active, passive, staff reporting, telephone follow up of laboratory reports only, liaison with ward staff and case note review, and states how each of these methods has a ‘major effect’ on reported SSI rates. All of these data collection methods are permissible in the current national surveillance programme, yet Wilson goes on to argue that a national surveillance system must prescribe data collection methods which minimise the risk of selection and measurement bias, thereby enabling comparisons between hospitals. Indeed, in effect supporting the claims of our paper, Wilson further states that reliable surveillance methods are desirable if data are to be trusted by surgical teams and also calls for robust validation systems.
English hospitals under report SSIs
English hospitals under report SSIs Tanner, Judith; Padley, Wendy; Kiernan, Martin; Leaper, David; Baggott, Rob; Norrie, Peter We thank Lamagini and colleagues for their interest in our paper. These authors from the HPA claim that we are misinformed and lacking in understanding. Yet, our criticisms are the same as those expressed by the Public Accounts Committee and the DH Advisory Committee on HCAIs. Even the European Centers for Disease Control says the English SSI surveillance system ‘lags’ behind the rest of Europe. The SSI surveillance data published by the HPA does not include post discharge surveillance (save for readmission data in the mandatory scheme) which account up to 80% of SSIs. This results in the ‘true’ scale of SSIs being hugely under reported. As length of stay after surgery continues to fall this becomes ever more important. An SSI surveillance system which does not include post discharge surveillance is akin to describing the size of iceberg by measuring only the part seen above the water.

Click here for a full listing of Rob Baggott‘s publications and outputs.

Key research outputs

Baggott, R. and G. Lambie (2017) Enticing Case Study or Celebrated Anomaly? Policy learning from the Cuban health system. International Journal of Health Planning and Management. 33(1), 212-234.

Baggott, R. and K Jones (2018) Representing Whom? Health Consumer and Patients’ Organisations in the Policy Process. Journal of Bioethical Inquiry. 15(3), 341-49.

Baggott, R. and G. Lambie (2018) Hard Currency, Solidarity and Soft Power: the motives, implications and lessons of Cuban Health Internationalism. International Journal of Health Services. 49(1)165-85.

Baggott, R., and Jones. K., (2014)‘The Voluntary Sector and Health Policy: the role of national level health consumer and patients’ organisations in the UK Social Science and Medicine 123, first published on line 8 July, p. 202–9.

Baggott, R. and Jones, K. (2015)‘Big Society in an age of austerity: threats and opportunities for Health Consumer and Patients' Organizations in England’ Health Expectations 18(6) p. 2164–2173, first published on line March 2014.

Understanding Health Policy, 2nd edition, Policy Press

Baggott, R.(2013) Partnerships for Public Health and Wellbeing, Palgrave Macmilla.

Tanner, J., Padley, W., Leaper, D., Keirnan. M, Norrie, P., Baggott, R et al. (2013) A benchmark too far: findings from a national survey of surgical site infection surveillance. Journal of Hospital Infection, 83 (2), pp. 87-91.

Baggott, R. ‘Policy Success and Public Health: the case of public health in England Journal of Social Policy, 2012, 41, 2, 391-408.

Anthony, D., R. Baggott, J.Tanner, K, Jones et al (2012) ‘Health, Lifestyle Belief and Knowledge Differences between two ethnic groups with specific reference to tobacco, diet and physical activity’ Journal of Advanced Nursing 68(11), 2496, 2505

Baggott R and K Jones (2011) Patients’ Groups in the UK: recent developments’, in Lofgren, H. and van de Leeuw, E. (eds) (2011) Democratising Health: Health Consumer Groups in the Policy Process (London, Edward Elgar).

Baggott, R., and Jones, K. (2011) ‘Prevention better than cure? Health Consumer and Patients’ Organisations and Public Health’, 2011, Social Science and Medicine 73(4), 530-4.

Public Health: Policy and Politics, (2nd edition), Palgrave Macmillan, (2010)

Baggott, R. (2010) ‘A Modern Approach to an Old Problem: Alcohol Policy and New Labour’ Policy and Politics, 38(1), p135-152.

Baggott, R., and Forster, R. (2008) ‘Health consumer and patients' organizations in Europe: towards a comparative analysis’. Health Expectations 11 (1) p85-94.

Research interests/expertise

Health policy-making and the NHS
Public health policy
Global Health
Alcohol Policy
Patient and Public Involvement in health
The Voluntary Health Sector
Partnership Working
Health Care Reform.

Areas of teaching

Health Strategy and Management; Health Policy; Public Health; Global Health.

Qualifications

BA (hons) University of York, Class I Economics and Politics; PhD, University of Hull, Politics and Social Policy.

Courses taught

POPP3000 Politics Dissertation

POPP3406 Health Policy and Politics

POPP5025 Global Health: Policy and Politics

Conference attendance

Consultancy work

Professor Baggott has undertaken consultancy for NHS organisations and local councils on issues including; patient and public involvement, smoking control, maternity services, and public health.

Externally funded research grants information

Alcohol pricing and alcohol problems (2009-11) with Martin Hagger (PI), University of Nottingham, Alcohol Education and Research Council £40,000.

The Cuban Health system (Sept 2012-August 2015) with George Lambie, DMU, British Academy Small Grant Scheme, £7,500.

Internally funded research project information

DMU RIF funding 2010-11 £9k (Brown PI, Tanner and Baggott) Health care associated infection control in the ambulance service.

Democracy and care home residents £500 (with E Thompson and J. Scullion) Business Faculty Seedcorn Fund 2014-15

DMU funded Research Leave Jan-March 2017: Global governance and non-communicable diseases.