Dispelling the myth
 Two recently published reports are trying to dispel the myth that the NHS is over-run with bureaucrats and pen pushers.
First, a Unison and NHS Confederation document, Completing the picture, profiles support staff at Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals in central London and Ashfield and Mansfield District Primary Care Trusts.
A research poll carried out in September 2004 showed that the public thought 48 per cent of NHS staff were not involved in patient care. Completing the picture highlights the fact that less than 3 per cent of the 1.3 million staff employed by the NHS are managers or senior managers. These managers are responsible for managing an annual NHS budget of £67.4 billion. The report also focuses on the important work of infrastructure support staff responsible for cleaning, catering, laundry and IT.
The second document, Bowler Hats and Bureaucrats - myths about the public sector workforce, from the TUC, says “The public sector delivers services with far fewer managers than the private sector. It also has fewer administrative jobs than financial services, which includes the City.”
The report goes on to say: “In absolute numbers, the private sector employed just over 3 million managers to manage 17.5 million employees, or roughly one manager for every six employees. The public sector employed just over 0.5 million managers or senior officials to manage just under 6.8 million employees, or roughly one manager for every 14 employees.”
Click here for Completing the picture and here for Bowler hats and bureaucrats.
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