On Leadership Development in the National Health Service Scotland

The National Health Service (NHS), which delivers healthcare to all in the UK, is undergoing profound change, from the role of the primary-care providers, the general practitioners, to the specialist hospital managers. There is a drive that ranges from greater care in the community to more effective use of highly specialist resources in hospitals. This is linked to the restructuring of the management in the NHS, requiring a new breed of leaders to achieve organisational change, and to attain development and growth. To develop the new cadre of managers, an exciting Programme is being established for Leadership and Organisational Development. This paper reflects on the background to the change in the NHS, and provides an account of the Leadership Development Programme that is being implemented in the NHS Scotland.