Department of Health and Social Care
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Launch of The Healthy NHS Board: Principles for Good Governance
The NHS National Leadership Council has today launched The Healthy NHS Board: Principles for Good Governance, highlighting the critical role boards play in ensuring that quality, centred on patient safety, effective care and patient experience, is at the heart of the NHS.
Good governance is essential for the NHS and the guidance explains clearly what this means for health organisations and their boards. Boards have three key roles – to formulate strategy, ensure accountability and shape a positive culture for their organisation. Success is built upon a sound understanding of the local and national context, effective use of intelligence and proactive engagement with patients, the public, staff and local partners. All this and more is explained in the document, which also sets out the key responsibilities of health service leaders.
The guidance is evidence-based and more than 1,000 people have contributed to its development, including board members, NHS staff, the Appointments Commission, the NHS Confederation and Monitor.
David Nicholson, Chief Executive of the NHS in England and Chair of the National Leadership Council, says, “I am delighted to introduce The Healthy NHS Board: Principles for Good Governance, and would like to encourage boards across the health service to make use of this guide as they seek to address the challenges of improving quality for patients. Boards must put quality at the heart of all they do, and this guide supports boards in delivering that responsibility.”
Elisabeth Buggins, National Leadership Council Board Development Lead, says, “The strongest boards are those who embrace an open and honest organisational culture, looking out to their patients, communities and partners. The guidance provided in The Healthy NHS Board: Principles for Good Governance will assist board members in focusing on their overall effectiveness. I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who contributed to the publication, with particular thanks to the steering group who have overseen its development.”
Andrea Sutcliffe, Chief Executive of the Appointments Commission, says, “I welcome today’s publication of The Healthy NHS Board: Principles for Good Governance. The development of the guidance has truly been a collaborative effort. With its focus on quality of care and effective use of resources, I am convinced The Healthy NHS Board will prove an invaluable guide for NHS board members as they lead their organisations through the challenging times ahead.”
Steve Barnett, Chief Executive, NHS Confederation, says, “The Healthy NHS Board: Principles for Good Governance represents a valuable tool in improving the performance of NHS boards for the benefit of patients, the public and staff. It sets out clear guidance that I know will be welcomed by our members.”
Robert Harris, Policy Director, Monitor, says “At Monitor we have always been very clear about the critical role boards play in ensuring that their organisations deliver high quality services for patients whilst at the same time delivering good value-for-money for taxpayers. The Healthy NHS Board: Principles for Good Governance will help strengthen the concept of good governance and I very much welcome its launch today.”
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Notes to Editors
1 The NHS National Leadership Council (NLC) was set up following Lord Darzi’s 2008 High Quality Care for All [the NHS Next Stage Review] report which outlined a commitment to improving leadership within the health service. The NLC aims to champion the transformation of leadership across the NHS and ensure that world-class leadership talent and development exists at every level of the system.
2 The Healthy NHS Board: Principles of Good Governance was commissioned by the NHS National Leadership Council and developed by Foresight Partnership in partnership with the King’s Patient Safety and Service Quality Research Centre.
3 The production of The Healthy NHS Board: Principles for Good Governance was overseen by a Steering Group with representation from: the NHS National Leadership Council, the Appointments Commission, the NHS Confederation, Monitor, the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement.
4 The document is available at www.nhsleadership.org.uk/boarddevelopment together with a compendium of supporting material.
Contacts:
Department of Health
Phone: 020 7210 5221
NDS.DH@coi.gsi.gov.uk
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