MPs say “striking and depressing” standards of local NHS management mean service improvement targets may be missed.
The report from the Health Select Committee hit the BBC headlines this week for slamming 'poor analytical and planning skills from PCT commissioning managers'.
The cross-party committee said the skills shortfall could jeopordise the improvements to the quality of care promised by Lord Darzi's recent NHS review. It also criticised key parts of Darzi's plans for England, including the creation of polyclinics.
“We remain very concerned that PCTs are not yet up to the task of putting these reforms into practice,” commented Kevin Barron, health committee chairman. “At its heart was a demand to improve the quality of care by giving patients more choice and greater power in exercising their rights."
Lord Darzi's final report sets a new foundation for a health service that 'empowers staff and gives patients choice'.
Regional managers worked with Darzi to set the standards for care delivery, but the MPs have raised concerns over the ability of local health bosses working for primary care trusts (PCTs) to deliver this vision.
They added that more emphasis needed to be placed on recruiting and developing better managers.
Society CEO Richard Evans commented: “At first sight this report looks like the Health Select Committee taking another cheap shot at NHS managers. The tendency of politicians and the press to refer to managers as if they have no concern for patients or quality of services is disgraceful."
However, Evans suggested overall the report offered "more than the usual attempts to find scapegoats" and welcomed statements from the committee supporting manager training and development.
“In many cases managers find themselves struggling to provide adequate training for clinical staff and have no budget left for their own needs," he said. "In PCTs in particular, managers have been expected to take on very demanding new initiatives with little or no support or preparation.
"Politicians are guilty of monumental complacency with respect to NHS delivery in general and in terms of leadership in particular. It is good to see that the select committee recognise the need for appropriate training and for efforts to recruit to a higher standard.”
