26.05.16
NHS Improvement should return to giving FTs autonomy, says executive director
NHS Improvement should seek to return to respecting foundation trusts’ autonomy, the organisation’s executive director of improvement told NHE.
Adam Sewell-Jones said that he wanted the newly-formed organisation to return to “maintain the earned autonomy principle” behind the idea of foundation trusts.
He added that Monitor, one of NHS Improvement's predecessors, where he was executive director of provider sustainability, “frankly wasn’t set up at the size or scale or operating model” to closely regulate failing trusts.
He said that NHS Improvement would not set itself the goal of simply being a regulator.
“As many of our organisations as possible will have very little to do with us unless it’s at their request,” he said.
Sewell-Jones added that trusts should actively seek advice from NHS Improvement.
He said that “even high-performing organisations” would benefit from engaging with NHS Improvement to achieve “continuous improvement”.
“What I’m really hoping is that even if they’re meeting the minimum standards in terms of a regulatory role, they actually have a desire to get better and they see some value in connecting with us,” said Sewell-Jones.
“So I think we want to change the narrative a bit from keeping the regulator away to saying ‘We want to engage a bit more with this new organisation.’”
He added that NHS Improvement’s support role could include providing leadership support, board support and operational improvement activities.
(Image c. NHS Improvement)
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