Daily Insight: Curbing their enthusiasm

Back in August the South Central Ambulance Service was the subject of a stinging Care Quality Commission review: Sexual harassment concerns “brushed under the carpet”; “no evidence” of action on ambulance handovers; leaders “not fully sighted” and sometimes “out of touch”.

Perhaps worst of all, the board was guilty of demonstrating “extreme positivity” about the trust, which inspectors said could be “dismissive of the reality to frontline staff”.

Now the trust – which was downgraded two ratings by the care regulator and has been placed in special measures – has set out of a raft of proposals to right these wrongs, including ensuring that board members hear a mix of positive and negative stories from staff and patients at the coal face.

Another goal is “improved relationships and communication” between staff and senior leaders, who will be expected to complete “civility training”.

Other measures in the improvement plan set out by the trust hint at the severity of inspectors’ concerns, including “sexual safety” training and a “zero tolerance approach to all types of inappropriate behaviour”.

Whoever is chosen to lead the trust after the incumbent CEO Will Hancock steps down in the new year will have a big job on their hands.

Commercial breaks

There will be a mini-exodus of NHS commercial leaders in the next few weeks.

NHS England’s commercial medicines director Blake Dark is set to stand down in November, and now Steve Oldfield, the chief commercial officer at the Department of Health and Social Care has also announced his imminent departure.

He has played a central role in creating new pricing arrangements with the pharmaceutical industry, as well as managing multiple supply chain challenges over the last two years.

In a statement issued yesterday, DHSC said Mr Oldfield was leaving to “continue his successful career in the wider public and private sectors”.

He previously held senior executive positions in the pharmaceutical and life sciences sectors, with companies such as Procter and Gamble, Sanofi and Teva.

According to the latest available annual accounts, for 2020-21, Mr Oldfield was the department’s top earner in that year, on a salary of between £235,000 and £240,000.

It comes as the Treasury and Cabinet Office are looking increasingly closely at the costs of central government departments.

Shona Dunn, the department’s second permanent secretary, said: “Steve’s contribution during his five years in government has been fantastic and he leaves behind a legacy of strong collaboration between industry and government.”

Mr Oldfield said: “I have loved my time in government and consider myself privileged to have played a part in navigating the country’s healthcare and commercial challenges of recent years.

“I have learnt what dealing with true complexity and uncertainty really means; I have been grateful for the tremendous collaboration from colleagues and industry partners. I have also worked with some of the most talented, dedicated and lovely people I’ve ever met.”