Introducing HSJ's Griffiths report for the next generation

In February 1983, the secretary of state for health asked Roy Griffiths and three others “to give advice on the effective use and management of manpower and related resources in the National Health Service”. Some 30 years after the adoption of the resulting Griffiths report – which introduced general management to the NHS – HSJ is asking a distinguished panel to do the same.

‘Our inquiry members will not be exploring how to help failing organisations, but instead on determining what leadership is needed to stop organisations failing in the first place’

There is of course no shortage of debate about leadership in the NHS. Indeed, the government has recently announced high profile reviews by Sir Stuart Rose and Sir David Dalton into this very area.

• Stephen Thornton: The NHS of the past was a foreign country
• Future of NHS Leadership – the panel
• Sir Robert Naylor to chair HSJ inquiry into future of NHS leadership
• Naylor: The NHS requires fundamental change if it is to survive

The HSJ Future of NHS Leadership inquiry will complement these important projects, but have a distinct focus – our inquiry members will not be exploring how to help failing organisations, but instead determining what leadership is needed to stop organisations failing in the first place.

In other words: what types of leadership does the NHS need to prosper now and in the future? What role should clinicians be playing? And what are the barriers to establishing the leadership needed?

These are difficult questions, and we are pleased to have expert minds exploring the answers to them. I am delighted that HSJ’s Future of NHS Leadership inquiry will be led by Sir Robert Naylor, and that he will be joined by Stephen Dorrell, Sam Everington, Richard Lewis, Dame Gill Morgan and Emma Stanton. All bring unique and important perspectives to these challenging issues.

Evidence gathering

The panel will produce an initial scoping report later this year, with a full report of their findings following in the months after. They plan to gather evidence widely, including making a public call for submissions to which I would urge you to respond.

The inquiry will be covered in depth in HSJ, with inquiry secretary Claire Read writing all its reports. We will be sending copies of the final report to the prime minister, deputy prime minister, health secretary, leader of the opposition and opposition health spokesperson, as well as to all chief executives in the NHS.

Thirty years ago the solution to the NHS’s leadership challenges was determined to be the introduction of general management. I am eager to learn what you and our expert panel believe the solutions are today.