Press information issued on behalf of:
Amnis Ltd., 3000 Hillswood Drive, Hillswood Business Park, CHERTSEY, Surrey, KT16 0RS

Web: www.amnis.uk.com

8th February 2010

Amnis warns that tactical Lean won't deliver - in the face of the health sector's financial challenges

The difficult financial challenges facing the health service over the next few years, as it restructures its service models to release cash, are likely to be difficult to overcome for those organisations that take a tactical approach to improving performance, warns the quality, innovation and productivity organisation, Amnis.

According to Amnis' Mark Eaton, any health sector organisation taking a tactical approach to implementing changes by focusing on isolated processes or pathways and not linking the front-line improvements to an overall transformation strategy is at risk of failing to bring about the financial benefits that are going to be needed.

"Significant and strategic change requires a strategic approach," said Eaton, "and that starts by getting under the skin of the real objectives that need to be delivered, putting real numbers to the improvements that need to be generated and then identifying the key areas that will need to be transformed to deliver the required improvements.

"In addition, the future for the NHS can only be delivered through organisations working together to tackle the big ticket issues in a collaborative approach," he counselled.

"This often means making a change to the way that senior teams work. It also involves the need to promote team working rather than the tribal warfare that can exist both within some organisations and across whole health economies.

"Moreover, it relies on impartial decisions being made about tough issues and recognising that, while everyone needs to win, they may not win every time.

"One thing that's for certain is that organisations don't need any more isolated ‘Rapid Improvement Events' that aren't linked to strategic goals and don't help health economies to deliver their collective targets," he stressed.

Amnis's healthcare specialists offer a range of services intended to help organisations, especially those in the healthcare sector, to implement Lean successfully. For further details, contact Amnis' client services director, Ruth Bodman, at ruthbodman@amnis.uk.com or visit http://www.amnis.uk.com

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About Amnis Limited

Working with both public and private sector organisations, Amnis is a consultancy which specialises in quality, innovation and productivity improvement, helping clients plan and deploy strategies for successful transformation. Its goal is to help clients not only deliver sustainable change but also to develop their capability to tackle their next challenges.

Providing both consultancy and training services, Amnis' team includes specialists in Lean/Six Sigma, organisational development, strategic planning, change management and systems thinking.

Further information from:

Mark Eaton, Amnis, 00 44 (0) 870 446 1002; markeaton@amnis.uk.com

Bob Little, Bob Little Press & PR, 00 44 (0)1727 860405; bob.little@boblittlepr.com