Leading the NHS: proposals to regulate NHS managers
Applies to England
Read the full outcome
Detail of outcome
This consultation sought views from all stakeholders on the most effective way to strengthen oversight and accountability of NHS managers in England. The consultation also invited responses on matters relating to candour, including on the possibility of introducing a professional duty of candour for NHS managers and leaders, and on making managers accountable for responding to concerns about the provision of healthcare patient safety.
The consultation closed on 18 February 2025 and received strong engagement across the sector and wider public, with 4,924 responses in total.
The feedback received through the consultation demonstrates widespread support for a statutory regulatory system, focusing on senior leaders. The vast majority of responses (92%) agreed that NHS managers should be regulated. Respondents largely cited improving accountability and trust in management decision making as reasons for this. Consensus for this was highest among non-managerial members of the health or care workforce, while 79% of senior managers and leaders also agreed.
The feedback gathered from this consultation has been considered to inform future policy decisions on how NHS managers and leaders will be regulated and to determine what wider support should be in place for managers and leaders. The government will now bring forward secondary legislation to implement a statutory barring system for senior NHS leaders. This will be subject to a further statutory consultation and the affirmative Parliamentary procedure.
Original consultation
Consultation description
There has been a minor change to the wording of one question. Survey responses given before 28 November will still be considered in the government response.
It is vital that we take further action to strengthen the accountability of NHS managers, with the overarching aim of ensuring patient safety. The government’s manifesto committed to introducing professional standards for, and regulating NHS managers.
The consultation will seek partners’ views on the type of regulation that may be most appropriate for leaders and managers, such as:
- which managers should be in scope for a future regulatory system
- what kind of body should exercise such a regulatory function
- consideration of the types of standards that managers should be required to demonstrate as part of a future system of regulation.
The consultation will also seek views on matters relating to candour, including first on the possibility of delivering a professional duty of candour for NHS managers and leaders. It will also seek views on making managers accountable for responding to concerns about the provision of healthcare patient safety.
Documents
Updates to this page
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Added the government response to the consultation.
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Updated the wording of one question to remove unintentional repetition. The second instance of 'If you agreed, which categories of NHS managers should a professional duty of candour apply to?' was updated to 'If you agreed, which categories of NHS managers should the statutory duty of candour apply to?'
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First published.