Re your report (Next boss of NHS England prepares purge of senior leadership team, 6 March), I hope that Sir Jim Mackey will consider the body of research showing that the best hospital systems are on average led by doctors, not non-medically-trained managers. The Mayo and Cleveland clinics sit consistently at No 1 and No 2 in global healthcare rankings. Notably, both have, since their inception in 1864 and 1921 respectively, been led only by doctors. Naturally, they also provide doctors with good training in leadership and management.
Having researched this area of leadership for 20 years, I suggest to Sir Jim that if he wants improved patient care, reduced waiting lists, efficiencies, and innovation through a greater use of AI and health tech, he gives more decision-making powers and responsibility to outstanding doctors, and other clinicians, who understand the core business of healthcare, medicine and the NHS.
Amanda Goodall
Professor of leadership, Bayes Business School
