TRAINING & DEVELOPMENT
Ministers warned health reform plans attempt too much, too soon
M
iP, the trade union for health service managers,
has warned ministers that government plans for health reform will attempt too much, too soon and are incompatible with extensive cuts to health care management budgets.
MiP (Managers in Partnership), representing nearly 6,000 senior health service managers, has urged the government to rethink its timetable for reform.
Jon Restell, chief executive of MiP, will tell MiP’s annual conference in London today that with demand for healthcare services currently outweighing resources, deep cuts to management budgets, alongside the government’s White Paper, threaten to create a “perfect storm” of challenges for health
service managers. Restell said: “Our chief concern at the moment is that the government is trying to achieve too much, on too many fronts, too fast. We believe that staff and the public share our priorities for the health service: financial stability, savings and the quality of services. Both the White Paper reforms and the management cost reductions should be carefully considered – and if necessary re-considered – in light of how they meet these priorities. If you haven’t got the people to do the job, the job won’t get done.”
Restell’s concerns echo those of Stephen Dorrell, senior Conservative MP and chair of the House of Commons Health Select Committee, who last week expressed worry over the pace and complexity of
proposed reforms. He warned the government that radical reforms to commissioning must not take priority over the sound economic management of the health service and the securing of efficiency savings.
The recent government White Paper, Equity and Excellence: Liberating the NHS laid out a fundamental reshaping of healthcare provision in Britain. It will fall to healthcare managers to implement the changes, ensure a smooth transition to the new system of GP commissioning and ensure service standards are maintained.
Managers will however be expected to deliver the reforms while also delivering a 46% cut in management costs. Doctors’ organisations such as the British
Medical Association and the Royal College of GPs have recently expressed concern about the loss of good managers from PCTs. Restell added: “Now is the time for managers to do everything in their power to influence politicians and clinical colleagues.”
He also said that the impending upheaval has created a “unique opportunity” for multi- professional teams, including health service managers, “to grab the bull by the horns and control the way change happens.”
“It’s time to replace the old power tussle between managers and doctors with a partnership - a partnership that enables a multi-professional team of healthcare professionals to take control of local health services.”
Nov/Dec 10
nhe 85
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100