Recommendation 3

The PHSO report powerfully demonstrates the need for effective leadership within the NHS. Good leadership is not just about taking action and giving clear direction. Good leaders also empower people to speak with candour, enable difficult conversations to take place, and hear uncomfortable truths, so that concerns and problems are addressed. Furthermore, mistakes and service failures must be acknowledged early. We welcome the Government’s plans to specifically cover plans for leadership in the NHS within the People Plan, to be published later this year. The Government should make clear however that ensuring effective leadership within an organisation is not simply a one-off event but rather is an iterative process of continuous improvement.