Welcoming the findings of a review of NHS leadership by General Sir Gordon Messenger and Dame Linda Pollard, the interim chief executive of NHS Providers, Saffron Cordery, said:

"Trust leaders will welcome this constructive report. Sir Gordon Messenger and Dame Linda Pollard acknowledge the world-class leadership already in the NHS and have listened carefully to what local leaders have told them, clearly understanding the many pressures that our large and complex health system is under.

"Despite these pressures, the report highlights a window of opportunity for collaboration and co-production, responding to the changing world of work as a result of the pandemic, against the backdrop of a statutory footing for integrated care systems and the merging of Health Education England and other bodies into NHS England and NHS Improvement.

"Trusts are committed to collaborating more effectively to develop and improve leadership, building on existing strong foundations, and local leaders must be fully engaged and involved in any changes to ensure a successful, high-achieving NHS as a provider of healthcare and an employer.

"We welcome also that the review weaves equality, diversity, and inclusion – a key part of strengthening future leadership – throughout its recommendations and findings. We actively support trust leaders to tackle race inequalities.

"The review has been a valuable opportunity to explore how we can strengthen and support leadership across the NHS, and the report recognises the important relationship between driving improvement in leadership and management and positive effects on productivity and efficiency.

"The report rightly highlights the crucial role of NHS managers and the importance of investing in people alongside operational and political priorities. We support this view as we continue to call for a fully-costed and funded workforce plan to deal with future demand. We welcome the report's recognition of the impact this investment will have on staff recruitment, morale and retention. 

"Everyone in the NHS will take on board this thoughtful report as staff work flat out to clear care backlogs and treat patients as quickly as possible, amid longstanding financial and workforce challenges. We look forward to helping to implement the review's recommendations, including the call for investment in a leadership and management programme in 2023/24."