Using targets to improve public services

Using targets to improve public services The government has added new targets to existing ones across key public services such as the NHS, schools and the police, which it hopes will improve performance in those services hit by the Covid-crisis. But this report reveals the way that targets have been used for easy wins have ignored important issues and manipulated data. To ensure that new targets are not counterproductive, the government should: develops targets in partnership with those responsible for meeting them; carefully considers the data that is needed, how this is collected and how it will be used to avoid creating unnecessary paperwork for frontline staff; and reviews targets regularly and amends or scraps them if they are having unintended consequences. Institute for Government