Streeting: Failing NHS bosses being ‘quietly moved on’

Under-performing NHS bosses are being “quietly moved on” rather than being “named and shamed”, Wes Streeting has said.

The health and social care secretary was speaking as he unveiled a new “intensive recovery programme” for struggling trusts.

Speaking on the BBC’s Today programme, Mr Streeting said: “The reason why you haven’t seen headlines about individuals and their heads being on spikes, [with us] naming and shaming, is because I’m not in the business of humiliating people to try and look tough politically.

“What I am in the business of doing is quietly, effectively and efficiently moving on poor performing senior leaders where they are not delivering the improvement that’s needed.

“And that’s why today I’m also announcing the five trusts where we’ve had stubborn under-performance, where I’m sending in NHS veterans with experience of turnaround to drive improvement.”

The five trusts are Mid and South Essex Foundation Trust, Hull University Teaching Hospitals Trust and Northern Lincolnshire and Goole FT (which together form the Humber Health Partnership Group), North Cumbria Integrated Care FT, and East Kent Hospitals Trust.

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Source: HSJ, 25 March 2026