NHS managers who silence whistleblowers to be banned from senior roles
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said the proposals will ensure those who commit serious misconduct are no longer able to work in senior NHS management positions.
Legislation is set to be put forward to Parliament next year to introduce professional standards and regulation of NHS managers.
Tens of thousands of clinical and non-clinical managers work in the NHS but there is currently no regulatory framework specifically for managers, as there is for doctors and nurses.
Wes Streeting, the Health Secretary, said the reforms will 'slam the door in the face of unsuitable managers'.
Mr Streeting added: 'I'm determined to create a culture of honesty and openness in the NHS where whistleblowers are protected, and that demands tough enforcement.
'If you silence whistleblowers, you will never work in the NHS again.
'We've got to create the conditions where staff are free to come forward and sound the alarm when things go wrong. Protecting the reputation of the NHS should never be put before protecting patient safety.
'Most NHS leaders are doing a fantastic job, but we need to stop the revolving door that allows managers sacked for misconduct or incompetence to be quietly moved to another well-paid role in another part of the NHS.'
DHSC said a public consultation launched in November last year received more than 4,900 contributions on ways in which managers and leaders could be regulated.
The statutory barring system will be for board-level directors and their direct reports within NHS bodies.
Further legislation will set out new statutory powers for the Health and Care Professions Council to disbar NHS leaders in senior roles who have committed serious misconduct.
DHSC said separate NHS England professional standards for managers will establish a 'consistent, national set of expectations about NHS management and leadership competency and conduct'.
Positive move to weed out poor leadership
Tom Kark KC, the author of the Kark Review into the effectiveness of the fit and proper person test within the NHS, said: 'I am pleased that the recommendation made in my report into the application of the NHS fit and proper person test to create a power to disqualify board directors found guilty of serious misconduct is being implemented.
'Along with the ongoing implementation of my other recommendations for improving board competence, this is a positive move to strengthen management in the NHS by weeding out poor leadership.
'This is good news for whistleblowers and those looking for accountability in senior management which has long been lacking.'
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