BMA raises concern over £28m consultancy firm cash

The British Medical Association (BMA) has raised concern after an investigation revealed that £28 million has been given to private consultancy firms tasked with improving the finances of NHS organisations.

The BMA report highlighted that NHS Improvement, which oversees the ‘financial turnaround programme’, employs 179 staff whose role profiles include those duties – at an annual salary cost of £12.8 million.

BMA council chair Mark Porter said: “The sheer amount of cash haemorrhaging out of the health service into the bank balances of consultancy firms will leave a bitter taste in the mouth for doctors and patients, particularly given the government’s refusal to give the NHS the cash it so desperately needs for frontline services.

“It’s fashionable to commission external consultants to solve the problems of the health service but each of these moves is nothing more than an expensive waste.

“The government and NHS leaders should focus on protecting the future of our much-needed health service rather than covering up the mess created by their own political decisions with costly short-term projects like this.

"Our NHS is in crisis. Rather than management consultants, investment should be in medical consultants, GPs, and the rest of our starved health services."

David Hill, NHS Improvement’s transactions and sustainable solutions director and financial improvement programme director, said: “As part of NHS Improvement’s regulatory functions, and in particular under Monitor’s statutory functions, trusts are monitored and supported in relation to their financial performance and sustainability.

“NHS Improvement is also responsible for work on sustainability and transformation plans, the financial special measures regime and ensuring the provider sector is on course to achieve financial and service performance targets.

“To exercise these functions, we have 179 staff members whose role relates to monitoring or improving financial performance of NHS providers. As part of its approval of the trusts’ consultancy spend NHS Improvement considered the return on investment expected.”