Doctors are the best hospital managers, study reveals.

Almost 30 years ago, what was then the biggest change to the health service since 1948 was ushered in by a report that noted: “If Florence Nightingale were carrying her lamp through the corridors of the NHS today, she would almost certainly be searching for the people in charge.”

That report, by Sir Roy Griffiths, led to the introduction of general management of hospitals in place of decision-making by consensus and organisation by administrators. It was not a template for getting rid of leadership by doctors – Griffiths said they should become more involved in running budgets – but in practice few were appointed to the new general manager posts. The men (and a few women) in suits took over.