The government has launched what it is describing as the most far-reaching review of leadership in health and social care in the past 40 years. The review will be led by former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Gordon Messenger, and will report back to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid, in early 2022.
The Health and Social Care Leadership Review will look to improve processes and strengthen the leadership of health and social care in England. Working with the health and care systems, retired General Sir Gordon Messenger will have a team from DHSC and the NHS to support him, led by Dame Linda Pollard, Chair of Leeds Teaching Hospital.
The government wants to ensure that every pound of the investment pledged for health and social care is spent well. Strengthening leadership, including clinical leadership, and spreading the best examples of outstanding management is vital to achieve this, by driving up innovation and more efficient ways of working. The review will help to reduce regional disparities in efficiency and health outcomes.
Any recommendations made as the review progresses will be considered carefully and could be rapidly implemented to make every penny of taxpayer’s money count.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, says: “We are committed to providing the resources health and social care needs but that must come with change for the better.”
The review will also look at how to deliver the findings of proposals and commitments made in previous reports on leadership.
The work of the review only applies to England, although other nations will be free to consider its findings. It will be funded from within existing DHSC budgets. Publication of the review will be followed by a plan committing to implementing any agreed recommendations along with clear timelines.
