London NHS ‘suffering from a lack of leadership’

NHS services in London are faltering due to a lack of clear leadership in the sector, according to a new thinktank report.

Analysis from The King's Fund has revealed that major issues are affecting the quality of care offered to residents in the capital, with large inequalities persisting between areas and widespread dissatisfaction with GP services.

However, the organisation has expressed concern that efforts to make necessary improvements will be hampered by the abolition of the local strategic health authority in 2013, which risks creating a "leadership vacuum".

According to Chris Ham, chief executive of The King's Fund, none of the emerging pan-London health organisations have a clear enough mandate to take the lead, meaning it is uncertain which body has responsibility for coordinating services.

"Strategic leadership is important across the NHS, but in London it is particularly important as the challenges are more acute and urgent," he added.

This comes after the thinktank emphasised the need for clearer plans on indicators to measure efforts to address healthcare inequality in the UK earlier this month.