NHS Employers responds to the government's announcement on manager regulation in the NHS

Responding to the Department of Health and Social Care's announcement on manager regulation in the NHS, Caroline Waterfield, director of development and employment at NHS Employers said:

"NHS Employers has engaged extensively with senior health service leaders on the issue of the regulation of managers. Our members understand the need to reassure the public that they are subject to similar standards of regulation and accountability as clinical colleagues.

“In our response to the consultation we stressed the importance that any new regulation is proportionate and provides continued opportunities to raise standards over the long term. This initial response provides the opportunity to do both, with the right design.

“At its heart this regulation must support a culture of openness, candour and learning to improve both patient safety and staff experience. There should also be a clear, fair, independent and effective mechanisms in place to follow up concerns regarding adherence to any future Code of Conduct that will be developed as part of this work.

“We look forward to working with the government as it designs, develops and consults on a new statutory barring scheme and our members are keen to contribute to its development so the way in which it is designed addresses the issues it is attempting to resolve.”