NHS Leadership Academy officially opened

The new NHS Leadership Academy has officially been launched, with the aim of driving better standards of management across the health service.

Initially unveiled by health secretary Andrew Lansley in July 2011, the national centre will be tasked with improving patient care through better leadership, working alongside health professionals, public bodies, social care organisations and local government.

Its functions will include developing leadership approaches, providing and commissioning national training programmes, managing change within the NHS system and supporting improvement schemes on a local level.

The academy is based in Leeds and expects to have its small core team in place within three months, with sponsorship to be provided from all parts of the NHS and eventually external partners.

NHS chief executive Sir David Nicholson said: "We face huge challenges across the world of health, social care and public health. Our leaders must be better equipped and more innovative than ever before."

Last month, the academy pledged to improve the representation of women within NHS leadership, which it believes will deliver a number of practical benefits.