logo
NHS managers who silence whistleblowers to be banned from senior health roles

NHS managers who silence whistleblowers to be banned from senior health roles

Legislation is set to be put forward to Parliament next year to introduce professional standards and regulation of NHS managers.
Tens of thousands of clinical and non-clinical managers work in the NHS but there is currently no regulatory framework specifically for managers, as there is for doctors and nurses.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the reforms will 'slam the door in the face of unsuitable managers'.
Mr Streeting added: 'I'm determined to create a culture of honesty and openness in the NHS where whistleblowers are protected, and that demands tough enforcement.
'If you silence whistleblowers, you will never work in the NHS again.
'We've got to create the conditions where staff are free to come forward and sound the alarm when things go wrong. Protecting the reputation of the NHS should never be put before protecting patient safety.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said those who silence whistleblowers 'will never work in the NHS again' (PA)
'Most NHS leaders are doing a fantastic job, but we need to stop the revolving door that allows managers sacked for misconduct or incompetence to be quietly moved to another well-paid role in another part of the NHS.'
DHSC said a public consultation launched in November last year received more than 4,900 contributions on ways in which managers and leaders could be regulated.
The statutory barring system will be for board-level directors and their direct reports within NHS bodies.
Further legislation will set out new statutory powers for the Health and Care Professions Council to disbar NHS leaders in senior roles who have committed serious misconduct.
Separate NHS England professional standards for managers will establish a 'consistent, national set of expectations about NHS management and leadership competency and conduct', DHSC said.
Tom Kark KC, author of the Kark Review into the effectiveness of the fit and proper person test within the NHS, said: 'I am pleased that the recommendation made in my report into the application of the NHS fit and proper person test to create a power to disqualify board directors found guilty of serious misconduct is being implemented.
'Along with the ongoing implementation of my other recommendations for improving board competence, this is a positive move to strengthen management in the NHS by weeding out poor leadership.
'This is good news for whistleblowers and those looking for accountability in senior management which has long been lacking.'
Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said patients expect NHS managers 'to be held to the same high standards as clinical staff, and that should include consistent regulation'.
Ms Power added: 'A clear, fair process to prevent those who commit serious misconduct from returning to senior roles will be an important step forward, and it's vital that patient involvement continues to shape proposals as further regulation is considered.'
Sam Allen, NHS national director for leadership and management, said: 'Managers will welcome this new regulatory framework, as part of the broader package of actions set out in the plan to attract, develop, and retain the best possible leaders for the NHS of today and tomorrow.'
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

East Kilbride MSP praises Scottish Government for delivering more NHS appointments
East Kilbride MSP praises Scottish Government for delivering more NHS appointments

Daily Record

time16 minutes ago

  • Daily Record

East Kilbride MSP praises Scottish Government for delivering more NHS appointments

This extra boost to the NHS will see the Scottish Government reduce waiting times and backlogs for key services, including for cancer, dermatology and diagnostic services like imaging. East Kilbride's MSP has praised the Scottish Government for delivering more NHS appointments. ‌ In May, the First Minister committed in his Programme for Government to delivering 150,000 additional NHS appointments and procedures. ‌ Now, more than 210,000 appointments will be delivered in total, backed by £110 million of Scottish Government funding. ‌ This extra boost to the NHS will see the Scottish Government reduce waiting times and backlogs for key services, including for cancer, dermatology and diagnostic services like imaging. This announcement will mean it is easier for people across Scotland to see a doctor and receive the treatment they need more quickly. ‌ Collette Stevenson MSP said: 'Scotland's NHS is a valued public resource that people across East Kilbride rely on. 'Despite challenges in recent years, from the impact of Covid to recruitment challenges because of Brexit, the SNP government is investing record sums in getting Scotland's NHS back on track. 'First Minister John Swinney promised to deliver 150,000 extra appointments in Scotland's NHS. ‌ 'The SNP Government is not just delivering on its promise - but will exceed it, delivering more than 210,000 appointments and procedures across Scotland this year. This will make a huge difference for people receiving treatment from NHS Lanarkshire. 'I want to pay tribute to NHS staff in East Kilbride, whose hard work and commitment to the service of their communities makes this vital progress possible.' An extra £4 million of funding has been allocated towards dermatology - taking the overall total that ministers are providing as part of efforts to cut waiting lists to £110 million. ‌ The cash should allow 4,100 more dermatology outpatient appointments to be carried out this year than there were last year. The announcement comes as First Minister John Swinney and his Health Secretary Neil Gray continued to focus on cutting the longest waits for treatment. The Scottish Government hopes these efforts will mean 213,000 more NHS appointments are carried out this year than there were in 2024-25. ‌ The health service is expected to deliver 195,000 scans in 2025-26, along with 88,000 new outpatient appointments and 31,000 inpatient or day case procedures. The increases come as the Government continues its efforts to tackle waiting times for treatment after backlogs increased during the Covid pandemic. Mr Gray declared: 'Reducing long waits in the NHS is one of the biggest priorities for the First Minister and the Scottish Government. ‌ 'Our record investment in the NHS this year is allowing us to target specific areas that are experiencing long waits, reducing backlogs and getting people the appointments and treatments they need as quickly as possible.' The Health Secretary continued: 'I am pleased to confirm that we expect the additional funding committed to reduce waiting times to result in more than 300,000 appointments and procedures this year. 'My thanks go out to all the hard-working NHS teams for their continued efforts. ‌ 'I am announcing an additional £4 million specifically for dermatology. 'We know that this is an area with significant backlogs, so by investing in increased capacity we hope to be able to reduce waiting times for this speciality.' *Don't miss the latest headlines from around Lanarkshire. Sign up to our newsletters here. Article continues below

Hospital worker arrested over assault of patient in Northampton
Hospital worker arrested over assault of patient in Northampton

BBC News

time16 minutes ago

  • BBC News

Hospital worker arrested over assault of patient in Northampton

A member of staff at a psychiatric hospital has been arrested in connection with an alleged assault on a Police said a woman, from Northampton, was arrested on suspicion of assault and ill-treatment or wilful neglect following an incident on 29 June and has been released on bail. St Andrew's Healthcare in Northampton, which is used by the NHS, said it had suspended a number of staff and launched an investigation into the hospital said it was "taking urgent steps to reinforce high-quality care across all wards" after NHS England restricted new referrals to the hospital. A Northamptonshire Police spokesman said: "Detectives are investigating a report of an assault which is alleged to have taken place at St Andrew's Hospital, Northampton, on 29 June.""Due to the vulnerability of the victim in this case, officers conducting inquiries as part of this investigation have been in contact with the CQC and local safeguarding leads," they added. St Andrew's Healthcare is a charity that cares for people with complex mental health hospital cares for about 600 patients and employs more than 4,000 people across four locations. Restricted referrals The CQC said it had carried out an inspection of inpatient services at the hospital on 11 July. A spokesman for the regulator said: "As a result, CQC took action requiring [St Andrew's Healthcare] to make immediate, specific improvements around safety. "They are being monitored closely to make sure this happens, and a report containing the full findings from the inspection will be published on CQC's website when the usual quality assurance processes have been completed," they added. NHS England said St Andrew's Healthcare looked after patients with "very complex mental health needs from all over the UK". "The safety of patients is our first priority and commissioners working together with the CQC have restricted referrals to St Andrew's Northampton site," it England said it had "taken immediate action together with St Andrew's to ensure the charity keeps patients safe, meets contractual obligations, and prioritises a targeted programme of support which operates in line with CQC requirements". Follow Northamptonshire news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

Resident doctors' strike undermines union movement, Wes Streeting says
Resident doctors' strike undermines union movement, Wes Streeting says

The Guardian

time16 minutes ago

  • The Guardian

Resident doctors' strike undermines union movement, Wes Streeting says

A strike by resident doctors 'enormously undermines the entire trade union movement', Wes Streeting has argued, urging them not to join industrial action on Friday morning. In an article for the Guardian, the health secretary says the decision by the British Medical Association (BMA) to push for new strikes in England immediately after receiving a pay rise of 22% to cover 2023-24 and 2024-25 is unreasonable and unprecedented. Taking aim squarely at the leadership of the BMA, which represents the medics formerly known as junior doctors, Streeting condemns their demand for a fresh 29% rise over the next few years. He says that while there was 90% backing for the strike, it was on a turnout of just over 55% of members. Streeting says the move to strike after the offer of a 5.4% pay rise for 2025-26, was rushed into and is 'bitterly disappointing' amid efforts to improve NHS services. 'There was a deal here to be done,' he writes. 'Instead, the BMA leadership's decision to not even consider postponing these strikes will place an enormous burden on their colleagues, and hit the recovery we can all see our health service is making. 'Not only that, it enormously undermines the entire trade union movement. No trade union in British history has seen its members receive a such a steep pay rise only to immediately respond with strikes – even when a majority of their members didn't even vote to strike. This action is unprecedented, and it is unreasonable.' The BMA argues that resident doctors have seen their pay fall by a much greater amount in real terms since 2008-09 than the rest of the population. 'Doctors are not worth less than they were 17 years ago, when austerity policies began driving wages down. We're simply asking for that value to be restored,' it said. Streeting says resident doctors have privately contacted him to express their dismay at the decision to strike, saying they 'feel the BMA's leaders are out of lockstep with not just patients but most resident doctors themselves'. The health secretary urges doctors to defy their union and not join in the strike, which runs until 7am next Wednesday. 'I am urging resident doctors to not follow the BMA leadership, who I do not believe are representing the best interests of their members, any further down this path as strikes begin on Friday at 7am,' he writes. The public have been urged to keep coming forward for NHS care during the strike, and NHS England has urged hospital chief executives to keep routine operations and appointments and only reschedule if there is a risk to patient safety. A Department of Health and Social Care blog noted that the NHS was 'taking a different approach' after learning lessons from previous strikes, and would avoid cancelling planned appointments for illnesses such as cancer because this posed 'a risk to patients too'. Sign up to First Edition Our morning email breaks down the key stories of the day, telling you what's happening and why it matters after newsletter promotion On Wednesday, the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges urged the BMA to suspend its guidance to resident doctors that they do not have to share their intentions to strike with their employers – as is their entitlement under employment law – to enable hospitals to better plan. It is understood that in previous strikes, healthcare leaders filled rota gaps of unknown size by overstaffing and cancelling procedures, with the result that there was insufficient work for some highly paid consultants. Fewer resident doctors are expected to go on strike on Friday than in the previous round of industrial action that started in 2023 after the BMA achieved a smaller mandate in the strike ballot. Of 48,000 members, 55% voted, of whom 90% supported industrial action – representing less than half of members – compared with a turnout of 71.25% in 2023, of whom 43,440 (or 98.37%) voted to go on strike. The numbers of striking doctors is expected to vary between hospitals and trusts, with anticipated staff rota gaps filled locally by consultants, agency doctors and other NHS staff. Hospital leaders will monitor demand and if they are overwhelmed with patients they will have contingency plans in place, for example cancelling some appointments to prioritise urgent and emergency care, calling in extra bank or agency staff, or requesting derogations – where resident doctors are called in to work – with the BMA. The Health Service Journal (HSJ) reported that the NHS England chief, Sir Jim Mackey, had told trust leaders to crack down on resident doctors' ability to earn money during the strike by working locum shifts.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store