Setting the scene

Doctors have a critical role in ensuring good teamworking which improves patient outcomes. UK hospitals with more doctors in their boards have lower morbidity and better patient satisfaction. In the USA, hospitals with doctors as the CEO have better performance, but in the UK less than 5% of hospitals have doctors as the CEO. There is an urgent need to improve training in medical leadership among UK doctors and to make careers in medical management more attractive to high fliers. The Faculty of Medical Leadership and Management has launched standards of medical leadership and management which will give credibility to this field and ensure that highly qualified candidates are appointed to all levels of management posts within the NHS.