Health bosses “won’t be rewarded for failure” under new regulations

Legislation will set out new statutory powers for the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC) to disbar NHS leaders in senior roles who have committed serious misconduct.

Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, said:

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.

I promised no more rewards for failure in the NHS, and these measures will deliver on it. 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.

The reforms we are making through ourPlan for Changewill slam the door in the face of unsuitable managers, while providing the training, support and development to help NHS leaders thrive and lead the NHS into a brighter future.

The new proposals set out by the Department of Health and Social Care will mean any leader who silences whistleblowers or behaves unacceptably will be banned from returning to a health service position.

They set out the first steps to meet the government’s commitment to introduce professional standards for, and regulation of, NHS managers, with legislation set to be put forward to Parliament next year.

Tens of thousands of clinical and non-clinical managers work in the NHS, but there is currently no regulatory framework specifically for managers, like there is for doctors and nurses. 

Bernie O’Reilly, CEO and Registrar at the HCPC said:

“The Government’s announcement of the introduction of a statutory barring scheme for NHS leaders in senior roles is an important step forward for patient safety. We welcome the commitment to provide the HCPC with appropriate powers to further protect the public.

“As the Government’s consultation makes clear, the vast majority of leaders and managers across the NHS work hard every day, making difficult decisions in often challenging circumstances to ensure patients receive the safe and effective care. Sadly, there have also been high-profile instances where this has not been the case, and a number of independent reviews have highlighted failures of leadership within the NHS.

“It is vital that senior managers in the NHS lead their organisations with the behaviours and values expected of the health service. If a senior manager is found to have committed serious misconduct, they should not be able to continue lead in the NHS.

“The introduction of a new system of regulation will be complex to get right. We will work closely with the Government, senior NHS leaders, representative bodies, and the wider sector, as the legislation is developed. It is essential that the new disbarring process has the right levels of funding, resourcing, and independence to help keep patients safe.”

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