MPs critical of NHS leaders after ‘disappointing’ evidence session
MPs critical of NHS leaders after ‘disappointing’ evidence session
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MPs have expressed “frustration” over “lengthy and diffuse answers” given by senior health leaders as they were challenged over NHS performance. The chair of the Health and Social Care committee said that MPs were left “disappointed” after Amanda Pritchard, chief executive of NHS England, and other senior health officials gave evidence on Wednesday.
The appearance comes as a damning report about senior health officials was published. The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) concluded that NHS and Department of Health officials are complacent and “out of ideas” when it comes to transforming the health service for patients.
Ms Pritchard was quizzed about the report on Wednesday morning during a two-hour evidence session before MPs. After her appearance, Health and Social Care committee chair Layla Moran, said: “This morning’s evidence session was an opportunity for NHS leadership to prove their drive and dynamism.
“Regrettably, we were left disappointed and frustrated. “We had hoped for a sharpness in witnesses’ responses, but were exasperated by the lengthy and diffuse answers that were given to us and will be writing to them to seek the clarity that we expected to hear in the evidence session.”.
Ms Pritchard told MPs that there were “factual inaccuracies” in the PAC report, adding: “I would like to say NHS England is absolutely not complacent about productivity, and it is completely wrong to suggest otherwise.”. She added: “There is no shortage of fresh thinking in the NHS.”.
