Mapping the gap launch

The ICSA ‘Mapping the Gap -highlighting the disconnect between governance best practice and reality in the NHS’ report was launched at the Congress Centre on Wednesday 20 July 2011. To download a copy of the report please click here

The report outlines the findings from research carried out by ICSA to develop a better understanding of how and why good governance is often understood but not always implemented appropriately in practice.

There is unprecedented interest in governance across all sectors of the UK economy; and the NHS has not escaped attention. Given the continual focus on efficiency savings, coupled with real term cuts in funding for the NHS, it is now an opportune time to look again at health service governance frameworks and highlight what works well and what needs to improve to meet the standards which will inevitably be required of the future NHS framework.

The findings from the research highlight:

•  organisations which have embedded good governance, especially where the right balance of scrutiny, challenge and respect has been achieved in the boardroom;

• the differences between the understanding of good governance from the perspectives of executive directors, non-executive directors and company secretaries; and

• the degree to which behavioural governance has been understood, accepted and promoted by NHS boards.