Independent review of NHS staff engagement announced

A review of NHS staff engagement levels has been launched with the ultimate aim of improving care quality across the country.

The study will be led by Professor Chris Ham, chief executive of the King's Fund, who will be supported by an independent panel of experts from healthcare and other sectors.

It will consider options for supporting employee voices and their stake in organisations providing NHS services, assessing models such as social enterprises and mutual organisations and  identifying barriers preventing some certain providers from engaging and empowering staff.

The review will make its recommendations to the government by April 2014, with good practice guidelines set to cover the hospital, primary and community care sectors, as well as relationships with social care.

Care minister Norman Lamb said: "We want to make it easier for staff to offer the best possible patient care by removing any barriers so they can operate in such a way that delivers the best outcomes for patients."

This comes after a survey from the British Medical Association last month revealed that GPs have noticed a reduction in morale levels in recent months, due in large part to an excess of bureaucracy.