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Hospital privatisation

Re: www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/Health-Care-News/south-london-hospitals-could-be-privatised

The NHS in many ways is an extraordinary organisation and there is no doubt the UK is very lucky to have it. However, at some point, we can only hope that the Government will address some of the key problem areas:

1) The ‘silo nature’ of NHS trusts, and the inevitable interdepartmental lack of communication & engagement.

2) The perpetual promotion of clinical staff to management positions, without assessing their skill base or track record in the arena.

3) The endemic assertion that ‘management’ is a secondary skill base and that ‘just about anyone can learn it’

4) The most ridiculous fear of consultant power and the potential impact it can have on a management career.

5) Highly overpaid & too numerous directors & assistant directors (c. £90k/anum) Weak CEOs who are complacent and just too happy to be appointed (£1-200k/anum).

So who’s to blame? Frankly the Government needs to put a minister in place for a sustained period, two years is not enough and they need someone of Gerry Robinson's calibre. Privatisation is the easy way out, it will lead to huge profit making and little more; what is needed is the engagement of private expertise operating within the trust boards as non-executive directors to ensure proper corporate governance, this could work. 

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