Government ministers are launching one of the most far-reaching reviews of health and social care leadership in 40 years, in order to better understand regional disparities in efficiency and health outcomes, and how fostering effective leadership can help reduce some of these challenges.
Led by former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Gordon Messenger, the review is expected to report back to Health Secretary 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 Messenger will be supported by a team from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) and the NHS. This will be led by Dame Linda Pollard, chair of Leeds Teaching Hospital.
Strengthening health and social care leadership, including clinical leadership, has been identified as one of the ways which the Government can get more from their investment and ensure that regional health inequalities are less prevalent across the country.
The review comes as the government invests a record £36 billion to put health and social care on a sustainable financial footing and deliver the biggest catch-up programme in NHS history.
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.
The work of the review only applies to England, though other nations will be free to consider its findings, and it will be funded from within existing DHSC budgets.
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Sajid Javid, said: “I am determined to make sure the NHS and social care delivers for the people of this country for years to come and leadership is so important to that mission.
“We are committed to providing the resources health and social care needs but that must come with change for the better.
“This review will shine a light on the outstanding leaders in health and social care to drive efficiency and innovation. It will help make sure individuals and families get the care and treatment they need, wherever they are in the country, as we build back better.”
