Wes Streeting promises to name and shame failing hospitals in league tables and fire underperforming NHS managers

Failing hospitals will be named and shamed in the league tables, the Health Secretary will say today, as he also promises to sack underperforming NHS managers.

Wes Streeting will tell healthcare leaders there will be ‘no more reward for failure’ as he sets out a package of measures to tackle poor performance.

NHS England will carry out a ‘no hold barred’ assessment of trusts across the country, with the results made public and updated regularly.

Trusts can expect to be ranked based on a range of indicators such as finance, service delivery, patient access to care and leadership competence.

The plans will also see continually replacing failing managers and sending recovery teams to trusts that have large financial shortfalls or provide poor service to patients.

Wes Streeting will tell healthcare leaders there will be ‘no more reward for failure’ as he sets out a package of measures to tackle poor performance

Under the plans, persistently failing managers will be replaced and remediation teams will be sent to trusts that have large financial shortfalls or provide poor service to patients.

Pictured: Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England

Meanwhile, top NHS performers will have more spending options to help modernize their buildings, equipment and technology.

The Department of Health and Social Care said there is currently little incentive for trusts to run budget surpluses because NHS trusts cannot benefit from them, but that will now change, with the best performing trusts getting more of this money.

Speaking at the annual NHS Providers conference in Liverpool, Mr Streeting will say: ‘The Budget shows that this Government is prioritizing the NHS and delivering the investment needed to rebuild the health service.

‘Today we are announcing the reforms that will ensure that every cent of additional investment is well spent and that waiting times for patients are reduced.

‘You can no longer turn a blind eye to failure. We will ensure that healthcare improves so that patients can get more out of it for what taxpayers put into it.

“Our healthcare system must attract top talent, be much more transparent to the public who pay for it, and function as efficiently as global companies.

‘With the combination of investment and reform, we will turn around the NHS and reduce waiting times from 18 months to 18 weeks.’

Amanda Pritchard, CEO of NHS England, said: ‘While NHS leaders welcome responsibility, it is vital that responsibility is accompanied by the necessary support and development.

‘The comprehensive package of reforms, developed with the government, will empower all leaders working in the NHS and give them the tools they need to provide the best possible services to our patients.’

Mr Streeting has already announced that failing NHS managers will be denied pay rises if they do not improve patient care or get their finances in order.

Streeting has already announced that failing NHS managers will be denied pay rises if they do not improve patient care or get their finances in order

A new remuneration framework for very senior managers will be published before April next year, with those who do well receiving financial rewards.

It comes after Lord Darzi carried out a review of the NHS earlier this year which found that the ‘sole benchmark’ on which CEO pay trust is set is the organisation’s turnover.

“Neither timeliness of access nor quality of care are routinely factored into compensation,” the report said.

Mr Streeting will also tell the conference how NHS trusts could be banned from using agencies to fill staff shortages such as healthcare assistants and cleaners, in a bid to reduce the £3 billion a year spent on agency workers.

Those NHS workers who leave their permanent jobs may also be deterred from returning to the health service through expensive agencies.

Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said: ‘We welcome today’s commitment to improving the performance and accountability of the NHS.

“These reforms indicate a significant impetus for positive change in our healthcare system.

‘The focus on tackling poor performance and rewarding excellence sends a clear message about raising standards within the NHS.’

Saffron Cordery, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers, said: ‘It is vital that we take decisive action to tackle the deep-rooted causes of pressure on the health service, including the lack of resources for public health, prevention and social care , chronic labor shortages, financial shortfalls and historic underinvestment in the bricks and mortar of the NHS, which underlie so many of the challenges we face today.

“Taking steps to resolve these root causes is critical before plans to introduce rankings and threats to ‘fire failing managers’ are even put on the table.”

Matthew Taylor, chief executive of the NHS Confederation, said: ‘NHS staff are doing their very best for patients in very challenging circumstances and we don’t want them to feel like they are being named and shamed.

‘League tables in themselves do not lead to improvement.’