When industrial relations break down.

The Government has taken a further step towards devolving responsibility for industrial relations policy to local health authorities. New guidelines on handling industrial disputes published by the DHSS express the Government's determination to stand well back from these and not interfere: "Ministers want NHS management to know that, having issued this guidance, they would hope not to intervene in their decisions." The emphasis throughout the circular, If Inidustrial Relations Break Down,' is on the need for NHS management to exercise its discretion when dealing with industrial disputes. It is not unusual for management to prepare confidential advice on how to handle disputes, particularly in a sector as strike prone as the NHS. But it is rare for such guidance to be issued as a public document. The DHSS has done just this by publishing these new guidelines, which describe how management can respond to industrial action by making use of agency staff and volunteers and by contingency planning. The guidelines arise from a study by some regional and personnel administrators of the problems that occurred during last winter's industrial action. Indeed, most parts of the document may be attributed to lessons learned from the specific circumstances of particular disputes occurring during the past year or