NHS 'deaf to criticism' and stuck in 'fossilised' ways, says Mackey

Sir Jim Mackey has said the NHS was too often ‘deaf’ to criticism and had ‘wasted lots of money’.

Sir Jim Mackey © Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sir Jim Mackey © Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Speaking to The Telegraph, Sir Jim said the NHS had been stuck in ‘fossilised ways' that had not changed since its foundation.

He said: ‘It feels like we've built mechanisms to keep the public away because it's an inconvenience. We've got to somehow reorient it; think about how do we find people who need us, how do we stop thinking "it's going to be a pain in the arse if you turn up because I'm quite busy" and instead think about how do we find out what you need and get it sorted.'

With public confidence in the NHS at an historic law, the NHSE boss said: ‘If we lose the population, we've lost the NHS.'

He added: ‘There is a strong argument that we have wasted a lot of money in the last few years, we haven't spent it as wisely as we could have done.'

The NHSE chief's comments come ahead of the expected publication of the 10-Year Health Plan this week.

The report revealed the plan will include trialling ‘patient power payments' with full payments given to hospitals only if patients are happy with care provided.

A&E funding is also expected to be dependant on cutting waiting lists and shifting care into the community.

 

BREAKING NEWS: CSUs and ICPs face axe in 10-Year Health Plan

BREAKING NEWS: CSUs and ICPs face axe in 10-Year Health Plan

By Lee Peart 30 June 2025

CSUs and ICPs face the axe as the Government has pledged to abolish over 200 NHS organisations in the 10-Year Health Plan.

Moment for change

By Lee Peart 30 June 2025

Andrew Curry, client engagement director for health and social care, Matrix Workforce Management Solutions, says extra funding in the Spending Review is welc...

Medicines supply issues 'distressing new normal'

By Liz Wells 30 June 2025

Medicines shortages and supply disruptions remain widespread, with mounting pressure on pharmacies as more time needs to be spent on managing medicines suppl...


Popular articles by Lee Peart