Clinicians on the board: What difference does it make?

► The representation of clinicians on the boards of English NHS trusts is low by international standards (years 2006-9). ► Where more clinicians do sit on trust boards, this is associated with higher Healthcare Commission service quality ratings. ► Higher clinician involvement on trust boards is also associated with lower levels of morbidity rates. ► A higher percentage of doctors on boards is significantly associated with better quality ratings and lower morbidity rates. ► The ratio of nurses and other allied health professions on boards is not significantly associated with higher performance.