Working in social enterprises

There is much debate in the UK about proposed changes to the National Health Service (NHS) which will lead to a much stronger market orientation for aspects of the service. Although the changes are 'proposed' in the current Government's Department of Health bill (2011) and previous white paper (Department of Health 2010), various initiatives to develop services into new forms of social enterprise were already being implemented under the previous administration, and allied health professionals (AHPs) were being encouraged to establish themselves in these forms of organisation. This editorial will explore some of the issues and the background to this development, particularly with regard to the implications for occupational therapy services.