An analysis is presented of the implementation of equal employment-opportunities policies in the British National Health Service (NHS). It focuses on policy development at national level for the NHS as a whole, and also at local level in a case-study of two District Health Authorities. The material was collected from interviews with over sixty respondents. At national level they included key actors in the policy process. Data from a mail survey of all Health Authorities and Boards in the NHS - undertaken for the thesis - is used to additionally evaluate policy progress at national level. The analysis focuses on the organisation and stimulae behind policy implementation at national level. At local level, interviews were held with personnel specialists responsible for the formulation of policy, and line-managers responsible for policy implementation. The analysis focuses particularly on equal opportunities monitoring, formalisation of the selection process for employment, and positive action measures. The analysis uses concepts of racism and patriarchy to theoretically structure a variety of disparate processes which deny equality of opportunity at work. It also suggests targets and strategies for policy implementation.