Health Management and Policy Alert

Action for equality: the time is now

NHS Confederation -
According to this report, NHS leadership that more fairly represents women in senior roles is “essential, overdue and needed now”. The Health and Care Women Leaders Network has found that while progress has been made to increase the proportion of women in leadership roles across the health service, there is much more to do to meet the NHS’s target for 50:50 representation this year, as set by the NHS regulator in 2016.

• Report
• NHS Confederation - news

The NHS after Covid-19: the views of provider trust chief executives

NHS Confederation - 

This report is based on interviews with thirteen provider trust chief executives in which they discuss the changes they have made to respond to COVID-19, as well as how best to restart and deliver services as we move into the next phase of the pandemic. The interviews took place in late May and early June 2020. The cohort identified three key concerns in  resetting services following the emergency response to the pandemic: staff wellbeing, restarting other NHS services safely, and the long-term impact on health inequalities.

• Report
• Press release

Strategic Health Authorities and regions: lessons from history

Nuffield Trust -
In 2019, NHS England and NHS Improvement aligned to operate as a single organisation, resulting in the creation of seven regional teams. But this is not the first time national oversight of health care has been supported by these kinds of regional bodies. This report considers what lessons might be learned from recent previous experiences, what works, and what are the pitfalls for this kind of intermediate-level management. A range of senior representatives who were responsible for running regional health authorities in their previous incarnation were interviewed for the report and the issues were discussed with people working in other parts of the health system hierarchy at that time.

• Report
• Nuffield Trust - publications

Leading through Covid-19: supporting health and care leaders in unprecedented times

The King's Fund - 

The health and care system in the United Kingdom is facing a huge challenge, placing enormous pressure on health and care staff with unprecedented demands on leaders, wherever they work. These pages on The King's Fund website aim to provide support to health and care leaders, whether they are working in the NHS, social care, public health or the voluntary and independent sector. We want to ensure this  support is  practical, helpful and works, so please use the online form to tell us how we can help. There's also the first of our quick-read practical guides and videos.

• Long read

Chairing more than one trust board

NHS Providers -
This report highlights the potential benefits and risks of more than one trust sharing a chair. This arrangement is becoming increasingly common for a range of different reasons, often including a trend towards greater collaboration and consolidation of trusts, a drive to improve quality and efficiency, and new partnerships with the development of system working.

• Report
• NHS Providers - press release

Leading with empathy

NHS Improvement - 
This case study is part of a series that focuses on improving emergency department retention and recruitment. It outlines how East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust are using a modern, supportive approach to staff development to successfully combat longstanding recruitment challenges and rising rates of staff turnover and absence.

• Case study
• Summary

2019 NHS Staff Survey

NHS Survey Coordination Centre - 
The NHS Staff Survey asks NHS staff in England about their experiences of working for their respective NHS organisations. This year's findings reveal that NHS staff say they are now happier and more likely to recommend their organisation as a place to work than last year, but too many still experience unacceptable abuse from patients and the public.

• Survey results
• Press release

How to build effective teams in general practice

The King's Fund -
This guide draws on insights from our research, policy analysis and leadership practice to outline ways in which practices can create and sustain effective teams, as they come together to form primary care networks.

• The King's Fund - publications

Leading for integrated care: 'If you think competition is hard, you should try collaboration'

The King's Fund -
This report explores the progress, challenges and opportunities the move towards greater integration presents, through interviews with 16 people leading or chairing an integrated care system or sustainability and transformation partnership.

• Report
• The King's Fund - publications

Developing allied health professional leaders: an interactive guide for clinicians and trust boards

NHS Improvement -
This is a guide to professional development opportunities and possibilities to support allied health professionals (AHPs) lead at all levels. It describes the common features of the AHP leadership journey, by combining insights and evidence from trust executives and chief AHPs. Its primary audience is aspiring AHP leaders and those with responsibility for developing the AHP workforce.

• Guidance
• NHS Improvement - publications