Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

NHS Managers: Performance and Efficiency

Tuesday 1 March 2022 · 2 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 0 Partly answered 2 Not answered 0

Key points

  • Barry Sheerman questioned the steps being taken to ensure high standards of performance and efficiency for NHS managers.
  • The NHS is recognized as one of the most efficient health services globally, with productivity growth exceeding the wider economy between 2010 and 2018.
  • Sheerman highlighted the need for better management training to support skilled healthcare staff, emphasizing the importance of effective leadership in the NHS.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Barry Sheerman Lab
NHS
Context

The question arises from a desire to improve the high standards of performance and efficiency for managers within the NHS, ensuring that they are well-equipped to support healthcare professionals.

Question

What steps he is taking to help ensure high standards of performance and efficiency for managers in the NHS?

Answer from Edward Argar

The NHS is recognised as one of the most efficient health services in the world. Between 2010 and 2018, productivity in the NHS grew faster than in the wider economy. However, there is always room to do more. My right hon Friend the Secretary of State has commissioned a review led by Dame Linda Pollard and General Sir Gordon Messenger to explore health and social care leadership and management, including the drivers of performance and efficiency, and they will report back later this year.

Partly answered

Not addressed: Specific steps being taken to improve management standards in the NHS were not addressed; instead, a review was mentioned without concrete details.

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Q2 Barry Sheerman Lab
NHS
Context

The question addresses the importance of effective hospital management to support healthcare professionals, referencing a survey showing low UK representation among the world's best hospitals.

Question

We have brilliant nurses, doctors and support staff, but too often the management of hospitals is not as good as it should be to support them. The Topol review should be kept alive, but we should also make sure that the training of managers is of the utmost importance. A recent survey of the world's best hospitals had only one British hospital in the top 100: Guy's and St Thomas's. Does the Minister agree that this is not good enough?

Answer from Edward Argar

Possibly at some risk to my political prospects, I find myself in agreement with the hon Gentleman on the importance of good and effective leadership. Of course I join him in his remarks about Ukraine. 84% of our NHS workforce are either clinically trained or are directly providing clinical support to clinicians, but it is also important that we recognise the importance and value of the administrators and managers who support the team. That is why we need the best people in those roles, and it is why my right hon Friend the Secretary of State has commissioned the review led by two extremely eminent people. We are determined to continue driving up the quality and standards of management in the NHS.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The Minister agreed on the importance but did not provide specific commitments or details on improving management training.

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