27 June 2003
The NHS Confederation has called on the new health secretary to back the sector's managers and help fight the destructive myths about 'bureaucrats and pen-pushers'.
Confederation chief executive Gill Morgan said John Reid should acknowledge that first-class management was essential to transform the health service.
Speaking at the confederation's annual conference in Glasgow this week, she said: 'We are faced with a debate which on the one hand calls for radical reform and on the other writes off the managers leading this improvement and the administrative staff supporting it as bureaucrats and pen-pushers.'
A Mori poll for the confederation found that almost 70% of NHS chief executives believed negative perceptions of management were making it difficult to attract clinicians into leadership roles.
Two-thirds thought the NHS risked losing its best leaders through stress, while 62% said the chief executive's role was becoming less attractive to young managers.
Managers told Mori they wanted more autonomy, a reduction in the number of targets and greater support from the Department of Health.
Morgan said: 'The message to the new secretary of state is clear: support your managers and leaders. You need us to catalyse and ensure delivery. Challenge us and expect the best.'
Reid was due to speak to the conference on June 26, his first major engagement since becoming health secretary.
He was expected to reaffirm his commitment to the government's modernisation programme, though his tone was expected to be less confrontational than that of his predecessor.
While Reid is said to be shocked by the strength of opposition to foundation trusts on Labour backbenches, he will welcome the Mori survey's findings that NHS chief executives believe the initiative will have much less impact than other programmes, such as widening patient choice and the new system of payment by results for hospitals.
'NHS leaders believe foundations are a step in the right direction. But they should not monopolise the health debate and sideline other far-reaching policies that are set to transform the health service and improve patient care,' Morgan said.
'Without this broader perspective, it will be difficult to shape a health service that genuinely meets the needs of patients and the public.'
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