The massive costs to the public purse incurred by the pandemic must be addressed. In addition to tax rises, we should introduce a system to empower and reward workers in the NHS and all other public sectors for suggesting and implementing their improvement ideas. These should be about how to work smarter, reduce unnecessary bureaucracy, reduce costs and improve quality. I have worked all my life in the private sector and have seen how successful these “lightbulb ideas” schemes can be. Ideas should be assessed every month by a team from different areas and levels, chaired by a senior person who is genuinely open to change. A small reward should be given for submitting an idea. If ideas are worth adopting, the proposer should be involved in the roll out. A further reward should be given for ideas which are successfully adopted, preferably in public and by a senior person. A “wall of fame” should be created for those whose ideas are adopted. I can give further details on how these schemes can work.
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