Foreword

For many years the mystique, magic and myths of healthcare management have presented a major challenge to doctors seeking to play a role in running the service. Even the terminology can be difficult to penetrate. Whilst there are many thousands of books detailing the intricacies of leadership and management, finding a source of information on who does what, why and where in the NHS can be a much greater challenge.

The journey through a doctor's clinical education can occasionally be haphazard, But compared with the totally random nature of a doctor's management development, however, it is a beautifully and consistently orchestrated process. No matter how enthusiastic a clinician may be to contribute to the management decision-making process, unless he or she happens to encounter a colleague with the insight and patience to show them around the basic anatomy, physiology and pathology of the NHS and the wider healthcare system, they will face many a difficulty in getting to grips with management. Management Essentials for Doctors fills this large gap, in that it provides a comprehensive guide to the full range of management functions and structures that can be so confounding.