Wes Streeting proposes ban on NHS managers who silence whistleblowers

A public consultation will seek views on introducing a statutory duty of candour to make NHS managers accountable for responding to patient safety concerns

Health Secretary Wes Streeting has proposed measures to regulate NHS managers, ensuring they follow professional standards and support a culture of transparency.

Under these proposals, NHS managers who silence whistleblowers or endanger patients through misconduct could be barred from working in the health service.

The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) will launch a public consultation on these proposals on Tuesday, 26 November 2024, and run for 12 weeks. It will review responses to the consultation before outlining the next steps.

The consultation will also seek views on whether to introduce a new statutory duty of candour to make NHS managers legally accountable for responding to patient safety concerns.

The changes are designed to tackle a culture of cover-ups which has been found to be present in several patient safety scandals in recent years.

Health minister Karin Smyth emphasised the importance of reform: “To turn around our NHS we need the best and brightest managing the health service, a culture of transparency that keeps patients safe, and an end to the revolving door that allows failed managers to pick up in a new NHS organisation.”

Earlier this month, Streeting pledged to reform the NHS as part of their 10-year plan for health ensuring a system that “rewards success and acts decisively on failure.”

“Today’s announcement builds on that promise and help us build a health system that protects patients and is fit for the future,” Smyth added.

While tens of thousands of clinical and non-clinical managers work within the NHS, there is currently no single regulatory framework for them in the same way as doctors and nurses.

Options being considered by the consultation include: a voluntary accreditation register, statutory barring mechanisms, and full statutory registration.

At a minimum, the new regulatory system would apply to all board-level directors in NHS organisations in England, arm’s length body board-level directors, and integrated care board members.

The regulatory changes will come alongside support and development to equip managers with the tools necessary to meet professional standards.

Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, endorsed the proposals stating:: “It is right that NHS managers have the same level of accountability as other NHS professionals, but it is critical that it comes alongside the necessary support and development to enable all managers to meet the high quality standards that we expect.

“We welcome this consultation and already have a range of work underway to boost support for managers in the NHS and to help set them up to succeed – this includes creating a single code of practice, a new induction process and a new set of professional standards, which will ultimately help drive improvements in productivity and patient care.”

Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, welcomed the public consultation noting that patients frequently report feeling a lack of accountability and transparency in their healthcare journeys.

She urged everyone who has experienced NHS care, especially those who have felt unheard by the system, to contribute their views.

The NHS Confederation also welcomed the government’s announcement of a public consultation on proposals to regulate health service managers.

Danny Mortimer, deputy chief executive of the NHS Confederation, reiterated that NHS leaders are committed to transparency and accountability.

He said: “When we consulted NHS boards they were clear that they should be held to the same standards with regards to public protection and safety as their clinical colleagues. We reflected this in the advice we offered the Secretary of State for Health as to any new arrangements might be implemented.

“We look forward to working with him to ensure that the new arrangements command the confidence of our members and, above all, the public,” he added.