IIt was supposed to be a coincidence last month A very decisive report In Student Financial Affairs from the General Accounts Committee of the House of Commons (PAC), a few hours before Amanda British, CEO of NHS England, appeared before the Health and Social Care Committee. the a report The accused leaders in the organization and the Ministry of Health and Social Welfare that lack “leadership” and “ideas”. On the same day, immediately after Mrs. Bretshard’s evidence, the Health Committee issued a statement. Ensuring PAC, she said that Mrs. British and her team lacks “leadership” and “dynamics”.
NHS England returned to PAC, claiming that the deputies He did not completely understand Financial operations in the case. It has been reported that “Wes Streeting” has “complete confidence” in Mrs. British, showing that her job is not at stake. But this two -species attack should have been affected. While monetary reports such as PAC are an integral part of parliamentary scrutiny, it is unusual for public employees to be reprimanded for their oral evidence.
Even the fans of Mrs. Bretshard will not claim that the show is the strongest suit. The frustration of the deputies in the health committee was what they considered long answers Anyone watching. But Mrs. British is not a politician, and one reason for the lack of clarity in her answers is to publish Decisive instructionsIncluding updated targets, were postponed by the ministers.
While deputies, like voters, are understood Patience for improvementThe expectations of persons with operational responsibility for the health service should be realistic. Looking at the financing restrictions, the fact that the 42 -year -old NHS England (with 42 -year -old integrated care boards) is still unclear what the demands of the transformation really – beyond the desire that things be better than they are. Julian Kelly, Mrs. Bretshard, explained that most of the amount of 10.6 billion pounds in the organization’s budget in 2025-26 will be absorbed due to salaries, national insurance and inflation, and 3.5 billion pounds permitted to the increasing costs caused by the aging of the population and new treatments.
With a desperate government for progress, under high level and ambition Minister of HealthThe political pressure on NHS will rise. The PAC report raised concerns about the productivity goals. On Monday, the National Statistics Office published the data Show a decrease In the last quarter of 2024, NHS calls for England contradict. These conflicting results, which are produced by different methodologies, are a source of concern itself.
The sorting of this confusion should be a priority for A new permanent secretary From the Streeting section, which is scheduled to be appointed soon, along with a new chair for NHS England. It means filling in this vacant job means that Mrs. Bretshard is likely to find her less space for maneuver; The high level of the autonomy granted to NHS England by conservatives is in the process of reduction.
This is not the only power struggle that is happening. Another dynamic sees integrated care panels – with its duties to improve public health in partnership with the councils – compete with Big Hospital boxes For influence and resources. One view of the difficulties of Mrs. Bretshard is to be arrested in the middle.
The accountability of the heads of public sector is the mission of deputies and they are right to take it seriously. But it undermines NHS Leaders also carry risks. Politicians should be aware of the strengths and weaknesses.
