Press release: NHS Confederation calls for clearer thinking on concept of "franchising" in NHS
26 Jun 2001
Responding to recent media reports that the Department of Health is set to introduce the concept of "franchising" into the NHS, Stephen Thornton, Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation said, "I am sure there is a kernel of a good idea here, but it is time for the Department of Health to be clear exactly how it is going to work."
Franchising, in the commercial sector, is best when there is a very clearly specified service to be delivered, one that can be repeated in clearly identifiable form in many different locations (e.g. McDonalds). This is not the case for NHS hospitals - there are never two exactly alike, each has a unique blend of services and facilities designed to meet local needs.
It is inevitable that in a service the size of the NHS there will occasionally be some institutions that perform poorly. In these circumstances there is considerable merit in utilising the skills of other, more able management teams. This is best done via a process of mentoring whereby managers and clinicians from the highly performing trusts are brought in to coach those in need of development. Stephen Thornton said, "A formal mentoring scheme would be a sensible and practical way of enabling the best of NHS management to raise the standards of the rest. It comes with none of the baggage associated with franchising."
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Notes for editors
- The NHS Confederation is the voice of NHS management. Our members include the majority of NHS trusts, primary care trusts and health authorities in England; trusts and health authorities in Wales; trusts and health boards in Scotland; and health and social services trusts and boards in Northern Ireland.
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