Whither the elephant?: the continuing development of clinical leadership in the UK National Health Services (original) (raw)

Perspectives on clinical leadership: a qualitative study exploring the views of senior healthcare leaders in the UK

Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine, 2014

Clinicians are being asked to play a major role leading the NHS. While much is written on about clinical leadership, little research in the medical literature has examined perceptions of the term or mapped the perceived attributes required for success. To capture the views of senior UK healthcare leaders regarding their perception of the term `clinical leadership' and the cultural backdrop in which it is being espoused. UK Healthcare sector PARTICIPANTS: Senior UK Healthcare leaders METHODS: Twenty senior healthcare leaders including a former Health Minister, NHS Executives, NHS Strategic Health Authority, PCT and Acute Trust chief executives and medical directors, Medical Deans and other key actors in the UK medical leadership arena were interviewed between 2010 and 2011 using a semi-structured interview technique. Using grounded theory, themes were identified and subsequently analysed in an attempt to answer the broad questions posed. Not applicable for a qualitative research ...

Leadership Development in Health Care: The Role of Clinical Leaders

Journal of Human Resource and Sustainability Studies, 2021

Aim: This paper presents evidence on the impact of leadership development programmes on developing key competencies of clinical leaders in the European Health Sector. Methods: An International Leadership Development Programme has been used as a pilot to assess effectiveness on skills development and leadership styles. A longitudinal pre and post-test design was used, with a sample of clinical professionals attending the programme within three years. A control group provided a method of isolating the impact of the programme. Results: We found that participation in health leadership programmes has a positive impact on health professionals’ leadership potential; leadership styles and talent management. However, leadership qualities are also influenced by other factors such as national and organisational culture, structure and team dynamics. Conclusion: The European cases presented in this paper reveal that the higher the contribution of clinicians in management roles, governance, and a...

Clinical leadership: the elephant in the room

International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 2009

The article explores the concept of clinical leadership in the National Health Service in the UK by seeking to establish a workable definition and by contrasting it with managerial leadership, focussing on the ‘disconnected hierarchy’ in professional organizations. It proposes that the problems faced by clinical leadership relate to the current nature of general management in the NHS and concludes by suggesting that clinical leadership is the ‘elephant in the room’—often ignored or unaddressed. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Medical leadership and management in the United Kingdom

Australasian Psychiatry, 2016

Objective: This article aims to outline the historical development of medical leadership in the United Kingdom (UK), present recent advances, discuss professional development and future prospects. Conclusions: With increasing involvement of medical professionals in top managerial roles in the UK over the last 30 years, leadership development initiatives have been growing steadily and there is increasing recognition of the need for leadership and management skills for doctors. Such skills can help to greatly improve patient care as well as enhance organisational effectiveness and productivity. The central involvement of professional bodies such as the UK Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management, and the establishment of medical fellowship schemes, have provided a solid foundation for a new generation of aspiring medical leaders but there is still a long way to go to achieve a higher degree of professionalism for clinical leadership in the UK. The evidence base is weak such that integrated efforts by clinicians and management academics have much to offer in achieving the vision of socially responsible, clinically relevant and research-informed medical leadership training.