This paper provides a review of the 10 significant publications related to benchmarking in health care. The discussion which follows is presented according to four headings: what the study did, how the study was conducted, what was learnt from the experience, and what the implications were for health care generally. The findings of this review are reassuring in that all studies provided valuable information, in terms of clinical practice and the health care service or the benchmarking process. They highlight the importance of the maintenance of quality health care, the reduction of health care costs and the need for improved efficiency and effectiveness in providing health care.