NHS 'hamstrung by red tape' as it takes 50 steps to release patients

Britain is hamstrung by red tape in the NHS and workers are blighted by regulation, Boris Johnson’s former cabinet secretary has said.

Lord Sedwill, who was head of the civil service for two years, said that the UK was “failing to fulfil its great potential” because of excessive regulation.

He made the comments in a foreword to a report by the Policy Exchange think-tank which also highlights examples of regulation “passing on significant costs” to customers.

Examples in the report include NHS rules instructing hospital staff to go through 50 separate steps to discharge patients, “leading to severe delays”.

Read full story (paywalled)

Source: The Telegraph, 23 April 2023