Strategists, Regulators & Policy Makers

The NHS is still struggling to recover from the pandemic, but studies show productivity was falling even before the Covid shock. We asked the experts: what’s driving this, does it matter and why are managers vital to turning productivity around?

Despite recent advances, many disabled NHS managers still face multiple disadvantages at work. Understanding and commitment from line managers and local leaders is the key to further progress, writes Jessica Bradley

As joint chair of the NHS Staff Council, Oonagh Monkhouse negotiates with unions on behalf of hundreds of NHS employers. But she’s also a working manager as director of workforce at the Royal Papworth, the UK’s leading heart and lung hospital. She talks to Matt Ross about boosting staff morale, building management capacity and why it’s important to try walking in someone else’s shoes.

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.

With the relentless upheaval in the NHS, voluntary redundancy may seem like a chance to get out while the going’s good. But not all schemes offer a good deal and government rules and tax policy can eat into your settlement.

Workers from overseas have been part of the health and care family since the NHS began. They are valued and respected colleagues who face many extra challenges in the workplace and beyond. Katia Widlak offers her tips on recruiting, supporting, and retaining your migrant workforce.

Latest figures show black and minority ethnic staff in the NHS are still denied the same opportunities for promotion and career development as white colleagues. We investigate why a public service that’s more diverse than ever before is still failing to root out race discrimination.

Meet Your Reps: Two of MiP’s most experienced reps, Dave Whatton and Sara Saville from the Black Country ICB, talk about negotiating organisational change and supporting MiP members through turbulent and uncertain times.

“The government miscalculated on all sorts of fronts”, says Sara Gorton, UNISON’s lead negotiator during the recent NHS pay dispute. She tells Matt Ross how a tide of dissatisfaction from workers and strong public support enabled union negotiators to hold their nerve and cut a pay deal that won overwhelming backing from members.