The health secretary made a controversial move on Wednesday by announcing his new "tough" measures for NHS managers at the NHS Providers Annual Conference, directly addressing a room full of them.
One of our regular contributors, Sean O'Grady, has drawn a comparison between Mr Streeting's approach and that of the new US president. While the connection might seem ambitious, Mr Streeting should be cautious about how far he pushes his "tough love" strategy.
During his speech, the health secretary introduced a policy that effectively reinstates what was known as the "foundation trust pipeline". This policy, originally implemented under Tony Blair's government, granted well-performing NHS trusts greater freedoms, such as financial autonomy, while sanctioning underperforming trusts.
The issue with this approach is that it previously fostered toxic "cover-up" cultures, which contributed to the development of the Mid Staffordshire scandal.
Although the health secretary is clearly aiming to encourage greater accountability and create a more transparent system, there is a risk of producing perverse incentives and fostering environments where leaders may feel compelled to hide problems within their organisations.
It is a delicate balance and certainly not an easy task. However, it is crucial that the health secretary maintains the confidence of NHS leaders if he is to deliver on Labour's promises for the NHS.
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