Health Secretary Wes Streeting has declared that underperformance within the NHS will “no longer be tolerated”, as he outlines plans for reform of the health service.
Speaking to GB News, Streeting detailed his vision of introducing ‘league tables’ for hospitals, promising to remove underperforming managers.
“What I’m setting out today is the approach that we all take to rewarding the highest performers by letting go of the top down, centralisation and control,” he told the broadcaster.
The Health Secretary also revealed plans to potentially ban NHS trusts from using agency staff for roles such as healthcare assistants.
The Health Secretary has vowed to ‘no longer tolerate’ underperforming managers
GB News
“Where we’ve got consistent under-performance, to make sure that we’re taking action and we’re not just allowing people to coast along, drifting and failing,” Streeting said.
Streeting announced plans for a new College of Leadership and Clinical Excellence to support NHS leaders’ development.
“We’ve got some great leaders across the NHS, it’s worth saying, and we’ve got emerging leaders who need to be supported to be the best that they can be,” he told GB News.
The Health Secretary highlighted the significant responsibilities of senior managers, who earn an average of £145,000 annually.
“Where we have that outstanding leadership in place, and where we’ve got the best performance, the centre should let go,” he said.
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The reforms will include blocking pay rises for managers who fail to improve performance
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He emphasised that while support would be available for struggling managers, persistent underperformance would not be tolerated.
“Where they are underperforming, we need to step in and take action and in most cases that will be through additional support,” Streeting added.
The Labour frontbencher will address NHS leaders at the Providers conference in Liverpool, where he will outline plans to deploy expert teams to struggling trusts.
Streeting will tell the conference there will be “no more turning a blind eye to failure” as he unveils measures to improve NHS performance.
Streeting said the Labour government need to ‘step in and take action’
GB News
“We will drive the health service to improve, so patients get more out of it for what taxpayers put in,” Streeting will say in his address.
However, NHS Providers has urged caution regarding the proposed reforms. The organisation called for addressing “deep rooted causes of pressures on the health services” before implementing such measures.
NHS Providers deputy chief executive Saffron Cordery warned: “Taking steps to resolve these root causes is critical before any plans to introduce league tables and threats to ‘sack failing managers’ are even put on the table.”
NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard responded by acknowledging the need for balanced reform.
“While NHS leaders welcome accountability, it is critical that responsibility comes with the necessary support and development,” she said.
