Leading the NHS: proposals to regulate NHS managers consultation response (21 July 2025)

Summary

This consultation sought views from all stakeholders on the most effective way to strengthen oversight and accountability of NHS managers in England. The consultation also invited responses on matters relating to candour, including on the possibility of introducing a professional duty of candour for NHS managers and leaders, and on making managers accountable for responding to concerns about the provision of healthcare patient safety.

Content

The consultation closed on 18 February 2025 and received strong engagement across the sector and wider public, with 4,924 responses in total.

The feedback received through the consultation demonstrates widespread support for a statutory regulatory system, focusing on senior leaders. The vast majority of responses (92%) agreed that NHS managers should be regulated. Respondents largely cited improving accountability and trust in management decision making as reasons for this. Consensus for this was highest among non-managerial members of the health or care workforce, while 79% of senior managers and leaders also agreed.

The feedback gathered from this consultation has been considered to inform future policy decisions on how NHS managers and leaders will be regulated and to determine what wider support should be in place for managers and leaders. The government will now bring forward secondary legislation to implement a statutory barring system for senior NHS leaders. This will be subject to a further statutory consultation and the affirmative Parliamentary procedure.

Related reading on the hub:

Patient Safety Learning’s statement on proposals to regulate NHS managers (23 July 2025)