A severe shortage of NHS managers is forcing doctors and nurses to spend hours on paperwork instead of treating patients, according to a new analysis published this week.
Managerial Deficit Reaches Critical Levels
The report from the health think tank The King's Fund, released on Monday 10 November 2025, indicates the health service is facing a "near record low" number of managers. The situation has deteriorated significantly since 2010.
The ratio now stands at 33 staff members for every one manager, a sharp increase from the 27 staff per manager recorded fifteen years ago.
This imbalance has emerged despite overall NHS staffing growing substantially. Between 2010 and 2025, the total number of NHS staff expanded by an impressive 37 per cent. Over that same period, however, the managerial workforce grew by a mere 12 per cent, creating a vast operational gap.
Clinical Staff Forced to 'Plug the Gaps'
The direct consequence of this deficit is that highly skilled clinical professionals are being pulled away from patient-facing duties. They are increasingly required to undertake administrative and managerial tasks to keep services running.
Suzie Bailey of The King's Fund stated that this situation is a key contributor to high burnout rates and low staff satisfaction across the NHS. Frontline staff are effectively having to plug gaps that should be filled by a properly supported management team.
Each week, hours that should be dedicated to patient care are lost to paperwork, rota management, and other logistical duties for which these staff are not specifically trained.
Call for Investment to Safeguard Care
The report advocates strongly for greater investment and support for NHS managers, emphasising that they play a vital role in enabling clinicians to focus on their medical expertise.
This sentiment has been echoed by the Department of Health, which has promised quicker A&E times under a new plan aimed at helping to end corridor care. The government recognises that a functional management structure is essential for improving patient flow and reducing waiting times.
Ultimately, the analysis makes clear that supporting NHS managers is not a bureaucratic exercise, but a fundamental requirement for ensuring that frontline staff can deliver the safe, effective care they are trained to provide.
