Failing hospitals will be named and shamed in league tables, the Health Secretary will say today, as he also pledges to sack underperforming NHS managers.
Wes Streeting will tell health leaders there ‘will be no more rewards for failure’ as he sets out a package of measures aimed at tackling poor performance.
NHS England will carry out a ‘no holds barred’ review of trusts across the country with the results made public and regularly updated.
Trusts can expect to be ranked on a range of indicators such as finances, delivery of services, patient access to care and the competency of leadership.
Under the plans, persistently failing managers will also be replaced and turnaround teams sent into trusts that are running big financial deficits or offering patients a poor service.
Wes Streeting will tell health leaders there ‘will be no more rewards for failure’ as he sets out a package of measures aimed at tackling poor performance
Under the plans, persistently failing managers will be replaced and turnaround teams sent into trusts that are running big financial deficits or offering patients a poor service (file image)
Pictured: Amanda Pritchard, Chief Executive of NHS England
Meanwhile, the best NHS performers will be given greater spending powers to help modernise their buildings, equipment and technology.
The Department of Health and Social Care said there is currently little incentive for trusts to run budget surpluses as NHS trusts are unable to benefit from them, but that will now change, with top-performing trusts given more of this cash.
Mr Streeting will tell the NHS Providers annual conference in Liverpool: ‘The Budget showed this Government prioritises the NHS, providing the investment needed to rebuild the health service.
‘Today we are announcing the reforms to make sure every penny of extra investment is well spent and cuts waiting times for patients.
‘There’ll be no more turning a blind eye to failure. We will drive the health service to improve, so patients get more out of it for what taxpayers put in.
‘Our health service must attract top talent, be far more transparent to the public who pay for it, and run as efficiently as global businesses.
‘With the combination of investment and reform, we will turn the NHS around and cut waiting times from 18 months to 18 weeks.’
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, said: ‘While NHS leaders welcome accountability, it is critical that responsibility comes with the necessary support and development.
‘The extensive package of reforms, developed together with government, will empower all leaders working in the NHS and it will give them the tools they need to provide the best possible services for our patients.’
Mr Streeting has already announced that failing NHS managers will be denied pay rises if they do not improve patient care or get their finances in order.
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Streeting has already announced that failing NHS managers will be denied pay rises if they do not improve patient care or get their finances in order
A new pay framework for very senior managers will be published before April next year, with those who do well given financial rewards.
It comes after a review of the NHS by Lord Darzi earlier this year found the ‘only criteria’ by which trust chief executive pay is set is the turnover of the organisation.
‘Neither the timeliness of access nor the quality of care are routinely factored into pay,’ it said.
Mr Streeting will also tell the conference how NHS trusts could be banned from using agencies to cover staffing gaps such as healthcare assistants and cleaners, in a bid to cut the £3billion a year spent on agency workers.
Those NHS staff who leave permanent jobs could also be stopped from coming back into the health service through expensive agencies.
Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients’ Association, said: ‘We welcome today’s commitment to improving NHS performance and accountability.
‘These reforms signal an important drive for positive change in our health system.
‘The focus on tackling poor performance and rewarding excellence sends a clear message about raising standards across the NHS.’
Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, said: ‘It’s vital we take decisive action to tackle the deep-rooted causes of pressures on the health services including the lack of resources for public health, prevention and social care, chronic workforce shortages, financial shortfalls and historic under-investment in the bricks and mortar of the NHS which underpin so many of the challenges we face today.
‘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.’
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: ‘NHS staff are doing their very best for patients under very challenging circumstances and we do not want them feeling like they are being named and shamed.
‘League tables in themselves do not lead to improvement.’
