Executive Coaching, Leadership Development, Workforce

Planning & Change Management, NHS Executive (UK)

Client Issue: The National Health Service (NHS) is the publicly funded health care system of England. It is a separate system from the other 3 national health systems operating in the UK, which are responsible to their own devolved governments & have developed under differing legislation. All 4 services collectively operate without general discrimination toward citizens from each others' areas. The NHS provides the majority of healthcare in England, including primary care (such as general practitioners), in-patient care, long-term healthcare, ophthalmology & dentistry. The NHS Act 1946 came into effect on 5 July 1948; subsequently it has become an integral part of British society, culture & everyday life. The NHS was once described by Nigel Lawson, former Chancellor of the Exchequer, as "the national religion". Private health care has continued parallel to the NHS, paid for largely by private insurance, but it is used only by a small percentage of the population & generally as a top-up to NHS services. The vast majority of NHS services are provided free of charge to the patient. The costs of running the NHS (est. £104 billion in 2007/08 are met directly from general taxation (ref. HM Treasury). The government department responsible for the NHS is the Dept of Health (DH), headed by a Secretary of State for Health (Health Secretary), who sits in the British Cabinet. Until Apr 2002, the NHS Executive was an integral part of the DH, advising Ministers on the development of policy & responsible for the effective management of the NHS. The functions of the NHS Executive were provided through its HQ in Leeds/London & 8 regional offices, before the last organisational restructure of the NHS.

Solution: During the time that Synergy worked with the NHS Executive we provided a range of services over many years - including contributing to a variety of modernisation projects; leading on process mapping & service improvement; executive coaching for senior managers & postgraduate medical & dental deans; team building for senior managers; input into workforce planning projects; the introduction, implementation & role-modelling of performance management & development planning for clinicians; values-based leadership & support for cultural change; training needs analysis; change management etc.

Outcome: Increased confidence & competence in leadership skills; improved communications; a bias towards action with evidence-based outcomes; clients (including Deans) felt more motivated & energised.

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