9. MANAGEMENT CONSULTANCY SPEND
9.1.1 What was the average expenditure of
NHS bodies, by type of body, on management consultancy in the
most recent year for which data are available? (Q116)
Answer
1. Information on the expenditure by SHAs,
PCTs and acute, ambulance and mental health trusts is not presently
collected by the Department. In June 2009, the Health Select Committee
published its report on The use of management consultants by
the NHS and the Department of Health. As part of this paper,
the Committee asked the department to begin to collect information
on the NHS' use of management consultancy.
2. The Department does not lead on the day-to-day
running and organisation of health services. The statement of
NHS accountability makes clear that all organisations that provide
care for NHS patients are responsible for ensuring that their
services meet appropriate levels of safety and quality. These
principals underpin the Government's vision for the NHS set out
in Lord Darzi's NHS Next Stage Review final report—High
Quality Care For All.
3. Nevertheless, the Government accepts
the case made by the Committee and recognises the need to understand
the overall expenditure on management consultancy by the NHS.
Currently, as part of NHS trust financial returns there is scope
for NHS organisations to report their use of management consultancy
expenditure. However, at present the level of reporting is neither
consistent nor complete across organisations. It is therefore
the Department of Health's intention to issue guidance to NHS
organisations as part of the financial reporting manual for 2009-10 to
bring consistency to this reporting. Based on this, the Department
of Health will collate and report the overall expenditure by NHS
organisations on management consultancy each year with effect
from the financial return for 2009-10.
4. The Government is committed to demonstrating
the value achieved on all expenditure and is continuing to look
at ways to improve the transparency of all NHS expenditure, including
management consultancy. Through this work, it is the Government's
intention to continue to improve the detail provided on its use
of management consultancy.
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