By John Benington Reproduced by permission of the Public Management and Policy Association. Greater choice in public services has become a key issue in public service reform. Some argue that the private market sector demonstrates the benefits of greater choice for consumers, but it is arguable that choice produces either greater quality or fitness for purpose. The author describes work in progress at Warwick and Harvard Universities to develop a stronger theory of ‘public value’ to provide a clearer conceptual framework and overall strategic purpose for public service improvement and reform.

Newcastle City Council has become the first local authority to sign up to a national campaign designed to encourage councils and their staff take a more practical and ongoing approach to developing workplace skills for life. The council will work in partnership with Trade Unions under the Get On (GO) Local Government Award to provide support for employees who want to improve their literacy and numeracy skills.The Newcastle scheme will be delivered in partnership with the council’s Basic Skills Service and it will also identify support for workers with dyslexia.

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Hand held computer devices could change the way health care is delivered in the future according to an article published today in the medical journal, ‘The Lancet’. Dr Daniel C. Baumgart, who works in Berlin, has carried out a detailed study of the way various equipment is already being used in treatment and in the education of medical students.His review says doctors and other health care professionals are moving quickly to adopt Personal Digital Assistants, while Palm Pilots and other hand-held computers are increasingly popular with students. The increasing integration of these devices with information technology in hospitals will, he says, have an impact on the future delivery of care.

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