New research reveals a growing mismatch between clinical staff and managerial support in the NHS, exacerbating burnout and leading to increasing corridor care, despite a surge in frontline healthcare workers.
Frontline NHS staff are increasingly being burdened with responsibilities that should fall to skilled administrative and managerial personnel, exacerbating wellbeing challenges within an already strained healthcare service. New research from the King’s Fund reveals that despite public perceptions of an NHS overrun by managers, the reality is a significant shortfall in operational leadership that forces clinical professionals to fill crucial gaps.
The King’s Fund analysis shows there are now 33 NHS staff members for every manager, compared to 27 staff per manager in 2010. This comes amid a dramatic expansion in NHS staffing: from 975,298 in 2010 to over 1.33 million in 2025, a rise of 37 percent. However, the increase in managers over the same period was comparatively modest at just 12 percent, rising from about 35,700 to 40,000. Suzie Bailey, director of leadership and organisational development at the King’s Fund, said the common narrative blaming an excess of managers “does not survive contact with reality.” She stressed that many skilled clinical professionals spend valuable hours on administrative tasks such as chasing paperwork and managing rotas that detract from patient care.
This shortage of managerial staff is linked to rising burnout and dissatisfaction among clinical employees. NHS workforce surveys reveal sustained concerns about staff wellbeing. For example, the 2023 NHS Staff Survey found over 30 percent of staff felt burnt out due to work, and around 34 percent reported emotional exhaustion, while nearly 36 percent found every working hour tiring. Similar figures from 2024 surveys demonstrate ongoing challenges, with 42 percent feeling worn out by the end of shifts and significant proportions lacking energy for their personal lives. Mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression are also key contributors to absence rates, with NHS staff in England losing around half a million working days annually due to mental health issues alone, accounting for nearly a quarter of all absences.
The clinical workforce itself has expanded considerably, with the number of doctors increasing by 54 percent and nursing staff by 31 percent between 2010 and 2025. Yet, vacancy rates remain stubbornly high, with over 100,000 NHS roles unfilled as of early 2025, including 7,700 doctor and 25,600 nursing vacancies. This staffing pressure compounds burnout risks, making the lack of managerial support all the more pressing.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting is due to address NHS leaders with plans aimed at improving NHS management, following commitments last year to tackle underperforming managers by withholding pay rises. However, experts argue that what the NHS truly needs is a strategic investment to professionalise leadership and administration, safeguarding clinicians from administrative overload. Bailey advocated that high-quality management is “vital for patient experience,” particularly in a context where operational support structures are increasingly scarce.
The system-wide impact of insufficient management and staffing is manifest in patient care challenges, including a disturbing trend towards corridor care. An All-Party Parliamentary Group on Emergency Care reported that one in five hospital patients are treated in corridors, which has been described by the president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine as “a source of national shame” that endangers patient dignity and safety.
Responding, a Department of Health spokesperson indicated that reforms are underway aimed at attracting and developing the best talent to boost productivity and redirect resources to frontline care. Measures such as NHS league tables will target improvement by rewarding better-performing trusts and supporting those underperforming with focused interventions.
This evidence paints a complex picture: while frontline clinical staff numbers have grown and the number of managers has risen modestly, the imbalance between clinical and managerial support roles leaves the NHS vulnerable to workforce stress and operational inefficiencies. Addressing this gap is critical not only for staff wellbeing but also for the quality and safety of patient care.
📌 Reference Map:
- [1] (The Independent) – Paragraphs 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10
- [2] (The King’s Fund) – Paragraphs 2, 3, 5
- [3] (NHS Providers) – Paragraph 4
- [4] (NHS Staff Survey 2023) – Paragraph 4
- [5] (Medscape) – Paragraph 4
- [6] (The Standard) – Paragraph 4
- [7] (NHS Employers) – Paragraph 4
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative is based on a recent press release from The King’s Fund, dated 10 November 2025, indicating high freshness. The Independent’s article, published on the same date, provides original reporting on this new information. No evidence of recycled content or significant discrepancies with earlier versions was found. The press release format typically warrants a high freshness score. No earlier versions show different figures, dates, or quotes. No similar content appeared more than 7 days earlier. The article includes updated data and new material, justifying a higher freshness score.
Quotes check
Score:
10
Notes:
The direct quotes from Suzie Bailey, Director of Leadership and Organisational Development at The King’s Fund, are unique to this report. No identical quotes appear in earlier material, indicating original or exclusive content. No variations in quote wording were found.
Source reliability
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative originates from The King’s Fund, a reputable organisation known for its research and analysis in the healthcare sector. The Independent, a well-established UK news outlet, provides additional reporting on the press release. Both sources are considered reliable.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about NHS staff being burdened with administrative tasks due to a shortage of managers are plausible and align with previous reports on NHS staffing challenges. The narrative is covered by reputable outlets, including The Independent and Sky News. The report includes specific factual anchors, such as the number of staff per manager and the increase in NHS staffing. The language and tone are consistent with UK healthcare reporting. No excessive or off-topic detail unrelated to the claim is present. The tone is appropriately formal and consistent with typical corporate or official language.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative is fresh, original, and supported by reliable sources. The claims are plausible and consistent with existing information on NHS staffing challenges. No significant issues were identified in the fact-checking process.
