NHS managers found guilty of silencing whistleblowers or engaging in serious misconduct will be permanently banned from holding senior positions within the health service the government has announced.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) confirmed plans to introduce a statutory barring system as part of a wider crackdown on unfit leadership in the NHS. Legislation to regulate NHS managers and enforce professional standards is expected to be introduced in Parliament next year.
Unlike doctors and nurses, NHS managers of which there are tens of thousands in both clinical and non-clinical roles currently operate without a dedicated regulatory framework. The new proposals aim to change that by ensuring individuals who have been dismissed for misconduct can not return to senior posts through internal reshuffling.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the move would slam the door in the face of unsuitable managers and help foster a culture of accountability and transparency. “I’m determined to create a culture of honesty and openness in the NHS where whistleblowers are protected,” he said. “If you silence whistleblowers, you will never work in the NHS again.”
He added that patient safety must always take priority over institutional reputation: “We’ve got to create conditions where staff are free to come forward and sound the alarm when things go wrong.”
The upcoming statutory ban will apply to board-level directors and their direct reports within NHS bodies. In parallel, the Health and Care Professions Council will be given new powers to disqualify senior leaders who commit serious breaches of conduct. Meanwhile, NHS England is set to introduce a national framework of professional standards to ensure consistent expectations across management and leadership roles.
The reforms followed a public consultation launched in November 2023, which drew more than 4,900 responses from NHS staff, patients, and experts.
Legal expert Tom Kark KC, who authored a 2019 review into the NHS’s fit and proper person test, welcomed the announcement. “This is a positive move to strengthen management in the NHS by weeding out poor leadership,” he said. “It’s good news for whistleblowers and for those seeking accountability in a system where it has long been lacking.”
Patient advocacy groups also voiced strong support. Rachel Power, chief executive of the Patients Association, said patients rightly expect NHS managers to be held to the same standards as clinical professionals. “A clear, fair process to prevent those who commit serious misconduct from returning to senior roles will be an important step forward,” she said, adding that patient voices must continue to shape future regulatory reforms.
Sam Allen, NHS England’s national director for leadership and management, said managers across the service would welcome the changes. “This new regulatory framework is part of a broader strategy to attract, develop, and retain the best possible leaders for the NHS of today and tomorrow,” she said.
The reforms are expected to mark a significant shift in how senior NHS leadership is held to account and aim to prevent reputational protection from overriding patient care and safety.
