Dear Sirs,

NHS England News Release

As you are aware, it has come to my attention that NHS England emailed a draft news release to the media on 22 February 2023, concerning performance of the NHS in England. This news release included some unpublished management information, which does not support the principles of intelligent transparency.

While the data were subsequently released in a supplementary file at the same time that the news release was published on 23 February, the inclusion of unpublished data in the draft meant that journalists were unable to verify statements made.

Following our engagement, I am pleased to be told about changes that have been made to enhance trustworthiness of the news release process. On 27 March 2023, the news release and underpinning management information were published together, and a draft news release was not issued.

You have also told us that the management information is of high public interest and there are plans to release this information in future as a regular output. I welcome this development.

I am copying this letter to Chris Gibbins, Deputy Director of Elective Recovery Analysis, NHS England.

Yours sincerely,

Ed Humpherson
Director General for Regulation