News: Performance Management
'Management training needed' after NHS survey results
30 March 2009
The NHS is blighted by poor management and leadership, according to a new survey from the health service watchdog.
Figures from the NHS staff survey, carried out by the Healthcare Commission, showed that while employee satisfaction in the sector has improved, there are still issues which could be addressed by management training.
Less than half of employees said they are able to work well with their managers.
In addition, only 27 per cent think managers include staff in their decisions, with almost half of employees feeling undervalued and overstretched.
Anna Walker, chief executive of the Healthcare Commission, says: "There are real lessons to be learnt from this survey about leadership, management and team work."
Clare Chapman, director general of workforce for the NHS, states she is pleased with some of the results, saying investment in training on conflict resolution has paid off.
In the year running up to September 2008 the NHS employed more managers than nurses, with senior management numbers rising by 9.4 per cent compared to medical staff numbers increasing by 2.1 per cent.
