The NHS top 50-Most Powerful

The NHS is a very large user of Interim Managers and it is widely regarded that they are making a tremendous impact on transforming the health service; this contribution is unlikely to change despite occasional political mutterings. Yesterday evening Impact Executives and our sister company Harvey Nash Executive Search sponsored the HSJ Awards that highlights the people, who right now, have the biggest influence on the policy and practice of the NHS. The full list in the link below provides a unique insight into the individuals and ideas that are shaping not just today's health service but how it will look in the years to come.

The Top 6 included:

1. Professor Paul Corrigan-Health Advisor to the Prime Minister
2. Patricia Hewitt-Secretary of State for Health
3. David Nicholson-NHS Chief Executive
4. Sir Liam Donaldson-Chief Medical Officer
5. Lord Warner-Minister of State for Reform
6. Hugh Taylor-Acting Permanent Secretary, DoH

The two top spots are the most likely to raise eyebrows. What does it mean when the Prime Minister's special advisor for Health, Prof. Paul Corrigan, is viewed as more influential than Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt? What is clear is the deep understanding that Corrigan has of the NHS (he was Reed's special advisor) and the connections he has made between policy and delivery in the corridors of Number 10.

The top 25 is dominated by those connected with the Department of health, both ministerial and policy guru's. There are few surprises in placement, such as the CMO rising above most of his political managers. The list also reflects the rise of several of the new Strategic Health Authority chief executives, though not all feature - yet.

So what skills should the top 50 of tomorrow focus on developing? On the ground at Trust and even SHA level, responding to constant change requires huge capacity to handle pressure and to deliver consistent improvements in performance.

More than ever, individual and organisational accountability and embedded performance management have come to the fore as critical skills for all involved in the NHS. Finally, financial management skills are increasingly seen as the core competence for all existing and aspiring leaders - perhaps this is the watershed between the 'old' and 'new' NHS.

The NHS is widely regarded as the most controversial part of the Public Sector, if you have been an Interim Manager within the NHS, what do you think?

Link:http://www.goodmanagement-hsj.co.uk/hsjsupplements/hsj_top50_supp_140906.pdf