NHS leadership programmes on pause due to coronavirus outbreak

NHS Leadership Academy, the body which oversees the courses, confirmed 12 of them have been affected following “ongoing developments” regarding covid-19. Those which are online only remain available.

The decision came into effect from Tuesday this week and will last the next 16 weeks “in the first instance”.

The announcement said: “This is not a step that we have taken lightly but given the unique nature of our programme participants being drawn from the NHS workforce and wider health and care, and in response to concerns that have been raised, it is both a compassionate and practical step.

“We recognise that in addition to the roles of our programme participants, be they patient-facing or otherwise, we all have a wider societal role and responsibility to reduce infection rates where possible, and that we all also have families or loved ones for whom we may need to care.”

The LA added they have contacted participants who are currently enrolled on the programmes affected. It remains unclear how the move will affect the next cohort of participants as yet.

It follows in the footsteps of other bodies’ decisions to scale back their operations in the health service due to coronavirus.

The Care Quality Commission has suspended routine inspections due to the covid-19 outbreak. The NHS Confederation conference, which was due to take place in early June, has also been cancelled. 

The programmes affected are:

1. Aspiring chief executives

2. Chief executive development network

3. Clinical executive fast-track scheme

4. Diversity, inclusion, power and practice

5. Elizabeth Garrett Anderson

6. Graduate management training scheme

7. Health and care leaders scheme 2025

8. Mary Seacole

9. Nye Bevan

10. Ready Now

11. Rosalind Franklin

12. Stepping Up