Poor hospitals will be named and shamed in league tables, the Health Secretary will say today, while also pledging 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 an “unrestricted” review of trusts across the country and the results will be made public and updated regularly.
Trusts can expect to be ranked on a range of indicators, such as finances, service delivery, patient access to care and leadership competence.
Under the plans, managers who persistently fail will also be replaced and turnaround teams will be sent to trusts that have large financial shortfalls or offer 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 will be sent to trusts that have large financial shortfalls or offer patients a poor service.
Pictured: Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England
Meanwhile, the NHS’s top performers will receive greater spending powers to help modernize its 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 cannot benefit from them, but that will now change, with better-performing trusts receiving more of this cash.
Mr Streeting will tell the annual NHS providers conference in Liverpool: ‘The Budget demonstrated that this Government puts the NHS first, providing the investment needed to rebuild the health service.
‘Today we are announcing reforms to ensure every penny of additional investment is spent well and waiting times for patients are reduced.
‘There will no longer be a blind eye to failure. We will push the health service to improve, so that patients get more out of what taxpayers provide.
‘Our health service must attract the best talent, be much more transparent to the paying public and operate as efficiently as global businesses.
“With the combination of investment and reform, we will turn around the NHS and reduce waiting times from 18 months to 18 weeks.”
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, said: “While NHS leaders welcome accountability, it is vital that accountability comes with the necessary support and development.”
“The comprehensive package of reforms, developed alongside the government, will empower all leaders working in the NHS and give them the tools they need to deliver the best possible services to our patients.”
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.
Streeting has already announced that failed NHS managers will be denied pay rises if they do not improve patient care or get their finances in order.
A new salary framework for very senior managers will be published before April next year, and those who perform well will receive financial rewards.
This comes after a review of the NHS by Lord Darzi earlier this year found that the “sole criterion” by which chief executive pay is set is the organisation’s turnover.
“Neither the timeliness of access nor the quality of care are usually taken into account in the salary,” he said.
Streeting will also explain at the conference how NHS trusts could be banned from using agencies to fill staff shortages, such as healthcare assistants and cleaners, in a bid to cut the £3bn a year spent on agency workers.
NHS staff who leave permanent jobs could also be prevented from returning to the health service through expensive agencies.
Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients’ Association, said: “We welcome today’s commitment to improve NHS performance and accountability.
‘These reforms signal an important push for positive change in our healthcare system.
“The focus on tackling poor performance and rewarding excellence sends a clear message about the need to raise standards across the NHS.”
Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, said: “It is vital that we take decisive action to address the root causes of pressures on health services, including a lack of resources for public health, prevention and social care, Chronic workforce shortages, financial shortfalls and a historic lack of investment in the physical elements of the NHS underpin many of the challenges we face today.
“Taking steps to resolve these root causes is critical before plans to introduce league tables and threats to ‘fire failing managers’ are put on the table.”
Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: “NHS staff are doing everything they can for patients in very difficult circumstances and we don’t want them to feel singled out and embarrassed.”
“Rankings alone do not lead to improvements.”
