NHS management overly ‘task focused’, government review finds

NHS management and leadership are overly ‘task focused’, according to briefings by the senior military leader who has carried out a major review of health and care for the government. 

General Sir Gordon Messenger has nearly completed the work, which had been due to be published shortly before Easter but was delayed by the government, and has briefed several senior leaders on several of his main observations.

According to several senior figures, he has said NHS management and leadership are heavily “task focused” — a management term referring to an approach devoted to completing certain tasks or meeting certain short-term objectives; in contrast to an approach which focuses on people, relationships or skills.

HSJ has spoken to several senior sources who have been briefed on Sir Gordon’s findings so far.

One said the former military figure had observed that “NHS leadership is… very focused on getting things done, and not focused enough on how things get done – which I think is very fair if you think particularly what the last 10, 15 years have been like”.

Another finding, according to those briefed, is the need for better support for NHS leaders running the most difficult local organisations, including providing what has been described as “support packages”.

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Source: HSJ, 26 April 2022