Health unions say that money should be given to medical staff not managers

The hundreds of millions of pounds the NHS spends on management consultants actually make it less efficient, the first study of its kind has concluded.

Not only are hospitals wasting their money but the consultants appear to make finances marginally worse.

Researchers said that “inefficiency is the norm” in NHS consulting projects.

Health unions reacted furiously to the “scandalous” findings, urging ministers to divert money from management consultants to doctors and nurses. Hospitals and consultants insisted that external advice was needed, but conceded that the results underlined the need for clear measures of value for taxpayers’ money.

Andrew Sturdy, professor in management at Bristol University, who carried out the study, said: “Our research has clearly shown that management consultants are not only failing to improve