The government has launched a review of leadership in health and social care to help to reduce regional disparities in efficiency and health outcomes.

The review will be led by former Vice Chief of the Defence Staff General Sir Gordon Messenger, and will report back to Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Sajid Javid, in early 2022. Messenger will have a team from the Department of Health and Social Care and the NHS to support him led by Dame Linda Pollard, chair of Leeds Teaching Hospital.

The review will also look at how to deliver the findings of proposals and commitments made in previous reports on leadership.

The review comes as the government invests a record £36 billion to put health and social care on a sustainable financial footing and deliver the biggest catch-up programme in NHS history. Any recommendations made as the review progresses will be considered carefully and could be rapidly implemented to make every penny of taxpayer’s money count.

Javid said: “I am determined to make sure the NHS and social care delivers for the people of this country for years to come and leadership is so important to that mission. We are committed to providing the resources health and social care needs but that must come with change for the better. This review will shine a light on the outstanding leaders in health and social care to drive efficiency and innovation. It will help make sure individuals and families get the care and treatment they need, wherever they are in the country, as we build back better.”