By George A. BoyneProblems of public service ‘failure’ are high on the political agenda in the UK, and many national and local organizations are searching for effective turnaround strategies. Although little research on turnaround in the public sector has been undertaken, there is a substantial number of studies of decline and recovery in private firms. Evidence from these studies suggests that turnaround is more likely in companies that pursue retrenchment, repositioning and reorganization. The relevance of this ‘3Rs’ strategy to the public sector is analysed, and the potential consequences for public service improvement are evaluated. This article will help managers to think more clearly about turnaround strategies that could work in their organizations.

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Head teachers are the country’s best leaders, according to a new poll commissioned by the National College for School Leadership with 51% of respondents rating them as providing a particularly good example of leadership. Officers in the armed forces polled 38 per cent, with police on 35 per cent and doctors 34 per cent. They were followed by sports coaches/managers on 15 per cent, business directors 13 per cent and MPs 10 per cent. At the bottom of the table of professions which provided particularly good examples of leadership were union officials 7 per cent, local politicians and health service managers both 4 per cent and civil servants 3 per cent.The poll also reveals that respect is growing for head teachers. While heads continue to be the second most respected professionals next to doctors, there has been a significant increase in the number of people who profess a great deal of respect for them – 43 per cent compared to 39 per cent in the 2003 poll. Three in five people have a great deal of respect for doctors, with police officers third on 25 per cent.

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A consortium of four organizations have been awarded contracts by the Department of Health to seek further ways in which the role of pharmacists can be developed to improve health and reduce inequalities. Potential areas for involving pharmacists include giving people more information about their health care, checking blood pressure and measuring blood glucose levels.The consortium will talk to pharmacists and carry out surveys, exploring how they can enhance their contribution to public health when providing health advice, particularly to disadvantaged and vulnerable groups. The consortium, which is made up of Pharmacy HealthLink, The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain, the Faculty of Public Health and the UK Public Health Association, will help to maximise the contribution of pharmacists, their staff and the premises in which they work.

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