'Prevalent issue' | NHS must rethink how it promotes managers, HR leaders say

NHS managers need to be appointed based on leadership skills, not clinical expertise, in order to do the job effectively, according to a new report based on HR leaders’ thoughts.

A report from the University of Central Lancashire’s School of Business - which looked at employee relations across the entire NHS - found that the pressures on line managers, who are often managing their operational and management roles, mean they regularly don't have the capability, capacity or confidence to undertake people management tasks.

As a result, this is creating challenges in the service in terms of effective employment relations.

The report, commissioned by the Healthcare People Management Association (HPMA) and Conflict Management Specialists (CMP), draws on 211 survey responses and 33 in-depth interviews with HR leaders, senior practitioners and trade union representatives from NHS Trusts in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.