Healthcare reform in New South Wales 1986-1999: using the literature to predict the impact on senior health executives.

While numerous reviews have examined the changing roles, skills, competencies, and educational needs of health service managers as the result of health care reforms, no study has focused specifically on the impact of New South Wales health reforms on the roles, responsibilities and behaviours of senior health executives in the public health sector. This paper briefly illustrates the significant changes in New South Wales health management since 1986. It also examines the forces behind these changes and predicts their impact on NSW Senior Health Executives based on national and international literature, and provides a foundation for further empirical research.