In a game-changing move Wes Streeting plans to introduce strict performance rankings for NHS managers - those who dont meet standards will lose their jobs. The system which starts next spring includes public league tables and no-nonsense approach to poor results
The best-rated hospitals will get special perks: they can keep extra money and spend it on much needed up-grades (like buildings and tech stuff). Meanwhile bad performing managers wont get pay rises‚ and some might get fired. The health service needs to be more business-like and show better results for tax-payers money
Latest check-ups show NHS has some big money problems; during last 5 years they got 20% more cash but treated only 3% more patients. Some places like Nottingham University Hospitals are deep in red - they planned to be £6.5m short but ended up £63.8m behind
Thereʼll be no more turning a blind eye to failure. We will drive the health service to improve so patients get more out of it for what taxpayers put in
The new rules also look at temp workers: they might ban agency staff for some jobs and stop NHS workers from quitting just to come back as agency people. Its all about fixing the £3bn yearly temp-staff costs
Rachel Power from Patients Association likes the idea but says patients need to help shape these changes. However Matthew Taylor from NHS Confederation worries about naming-and-shaming effects. Dr Nick Murch thinks league tables wont fix winter problems that are coming up