Practice and PCN managers in England could be regulated under mechanisms similar to medical and nursing colleagues, according to plans released by the Government last week.
PCN clinical directors could also come under the scope of the proposals launched by the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) last week.
Its public consultation sets out measures that aim to increase accountability of NHS managers and leaders, and set ‘clear and consistent’ professional standards.
It could mean that, in future, NHS managers found guilty of serious misconduct that endangers patients could be banned from working for the health service.
The plans include options for regulation, ranging from:
- creating a list of ‘barred’ individuals deemed unfit to practise in the profession as a result of poor conduct
- developing a professional register of individuals held by a regulatory body (like the GMC). This could be voluntary or made compulsory to join (via full statutory regulation).
Statutory regulation would require individuals to meet a set of professional standards/an approved qualification before entry on the register, which ‘would put managers on a similar regulatory footing as medical and nursing colleagues,’ the DHSC consultation document said. It could also result in managers having to undertake revalidation and paying annual registration fees.
As a minimum, any new regulatory system should apply to all board level directors in NHS organisations in England, arm’s length body board level directors and ICB board members, the plans have said.
However, its scope is likely to be much wider as the consultation seeks views on which managers and organisations any future duty should apply to. This could include GP practice managers, PCN managers and PCN clinical directors, DHSC confirmed to Management in Practice.
Where a manager is also a clinician and therefore already held to account by another regulator, such as the GMC, a system of ‘dual registration’ is being proposed, so they would be regulated in both their roles.
The Government is also consulting on whether to introduce a new professional duty of candour on managers, which would make them legally accountable for responding to concerns about patient safety.
This was one of the recommendations made in the Infected Blood Inquiry’s final report published in May to encourage transparency and open behaviour.
Meanwhile, NHS England is developing a set of professional standards for NHS managers, since none exist currently.
They will bring in a code of practice, a set of core standards and competencies for managers and leaders at all levels in the NHS, as well as a national training curriculum.
‘This will support managers and leaders to undertake further training to improve their effectiveness and to progress in their careers, the consultation said.
The Institute of General Practice Management (IGPM) said it has had a professional register in place since 2021, with a voluntary accreditation process for all managers in general practice, including in PCNs. Accredited members must adhere to a code of conduct as outlined by the body, which also operates a regulatory process for its members.
It’s directors said they welcomed the Government reviewing professional standards for managers but warned that, ‘the role of managers in primary care is quite different to those working in large trusts’.
Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, said: ‘It is right that NHS managers have the same level of accountability as other NHS professionals, but it is critical that it comes alongside the necessary support and development to enable all managers to meet the high quality standards that we expect.
‘We welcome this consultation and already have a range of work underway to boost support for managers in the NHS and to help set them up to succeed – this includes creating a single code of practice, a new induction process and a new set of professional standards, which will ultimately help drive improvements in productivity and patient care.’
To take part in the consultation, which closes on 18 February 2025, click here.
