Basildon: Help For Failing Hospitals

19 September 2013, 11:32 | Updated: 19 September 2013, 15:17

Top performing NHS managers are to be drafted in to turn around failing hospitals in a move that Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt said would lead to "real change''.

The 11 hospitals, including Basildon, put in special measures in the wake of the scandal over standards at Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust and subsequent Keogh Review will be partnered with the best NHS trusts and managers.

The high performing hospitals will enter into contracts with the NHS Trust Development Authority or regulator Monitor to support the special measures hospitals.

The mentor hospitals will be paid for the work, which will help back-fill management posts according to Mr Hunt, and will have access to a special incentive fund.

The announcement came as the Department of Health revealed its new NHS Leadership Programme which aims to transform the top tier of health service managers and staff into star performers.

Health bosses want three-quarters of recruits to be current NHS staff and will appeal to senior doctors, nurses, managers and high-fliers to apply for the programme. The remaining quarter will be brought in from industry.

The 10-month programme, run by the NHS Leadership Academy, will start in the spring.

Basildon Hospital will be teamed up with the Royal Free Hospital in London.

Basildon and Thurrock University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has welcomed the move. 

Clare Panniker, Chief Executive, said: "We welcome our partnership with the Royal Free, and to learning from any best practice they can share with us. 

"We believe we are making significant improvements to improving patient care."