Response to Andrew Lansley

21 June 2010

Responding to comments by the Health Secretary, Andrew Lansley, on the need to accelerate cuts in management costs across the NHS, Ruth Spellman, chief executive of the Chartered Management Institute, says:

"There have been too many examples of catastrophic failures within the NHS where targets were put ahead of patient care. The government is right to act now, before more bad management costs lives, but the desire to cut costs should not just be about imposing arbitrary reductions at management level.

"As the government looks to make cost savings, it is an ideal time for PCTs and SHAs to review the standards of leadership within their organisations. Now is the time to focus on removing managers whose capabilities fall below the first class standards that patients have a right to expect.

"To this end, perhaps the answer lies in the health service only employing managers with professional qualifications. Yes, tough questions must be asked about how we can improve management and leadership standards in the NHS, but wholesale cuts are not the answer. Instead the question on everyone’s lips must be 'how can we cut costs without cutting corners?'"