Analysis & opinion

The Lucy Letby case demands a comprehensive and thoughtful response. Statutory regulation of managers may be a part of that, but won't be a quick fix. Right now, we need to tackle a culture that deters staff, patients and the public from raising concerns about NHS care.

As the party conference season gets underway this weekend, Sir Chris Ham sets out the challenges facing the UK’s political parties as they draw up their NHS policies, and argues that the multiple crises facing the NHS can be overcome with honesty, realism and political will.

While the NHS pension scheme is eye-wateringly huge, it is eminently affordable, taking in billions more in contributions than it pays out in benefits. It remains one of the safest investments going, writes Jon Restell.

We need to challenge the widely-held belief that all-powerful managers are blocking change in the NHS. It's a lack of empathy for the difficult choices and hard realities that managers face which is holding us back.

Staff shortages, plunging morale and shrinking pay packets are pushing more and more board-level NHS managers towards the door. A fair pay award would help to stabilise NHS leadership – just when the service needs it most

For most NHS managers, unfair criticism is like water off a duck’s back. But the denigration and devaluing of management does real damage to the NHS. Here's how MiP plans to take on the manager-bashers and promote a positive view of the vital work managers do.

By any standards, the NHS lacks management capacity despite clear evidence that managers improve efficiency and service quality. If we can’t have more managers, let’s at least make the most of the ones we have.

The government's response to the multiple crises facing the NHS has been negligent. But ministers will not change course unless forced to do so. That's why I'm asking MiP members to vote yes to industrial action this autumn.

MiP chief executive Jon Restell responds to government plans to cut up to 40% of management jobs following the merger of NHS England, NHS Digital and Health Education England

Times are tough, but MiP's National Committee has set a challenging but optimistic agenda for the next two years.