Management Capacity and Capability in Healthcare
What Difference Can it Make
How can we define the value of NHS management in a time when innovation is no longer a luxury, but a necessity for survival? While often viewed as a bureaucratic burden, managers are the essential “lifeblood” that keeps the system functioning. This blog captures a recent Health Foundation webinar, exploring how managers in the NHS transforms daily firefighting into sustainable improvement for patient care.
The event on 29 April 2025 gathered academics, policymakers, and healthcare leaders to discuss NHS management. Key insights included the undervaluation of managers, the need for professional regulation, and the importance of supporting management capacity. Recommendations emphasized reframing management perceptions, defining standards, and investing in development pathways to enhance effectiveness in challenging environments.
On 18 June 2025, the University of Bristol Business School hosted a forum with NHS leaders to discuss integrating internal and external consultancy for better health service outcomes. Key insights revealed the need for internal expertise to be leveraged and for a balanced approach to consulting, emphasizing collaboration and sustainable improvement within the NHS.
On 22nd January, 2025, the first in a series of events linked to the Health Foundation funded project ‘Management capacity and capability in NHS trusts and system-level partnerships’, led by the School for Business and Society at the University of York, was held. This inaugural event, titled “The State of NHS Management Today,” was hosted … Continue reading The State of NHS Management Today