Amanda Pritchard will next week become the first female chief executive of NHS England in its 73-year history.
Pritchard, who has served as the chief operating officer for NHS England and NHS Improvement for two years, takes up the post on 1 August.
There are big challenges ahead as NHS staff continue to deal with significant pressures while maintaining the roll-out of the hugely successful NHS vaccination programme and tackle backlogs that have inevitably built up in the face of rising Covid infections” – Amanda Pritchard
She replaces Sir Simon Stevens, who announced in April that he would be stepping down after more than seven years at the helm of the health service.
Pritchard said: “I am honoured to lead the NHS, particularly as the first woman chief executive of an organisation whose staff are more than three-quarters female.
“I have always been incredibly proud to work in the health service but never more so than over the last 18 months as nurses, doctors, therapists, paramedics, pharmacists, porters, cleaners and other staff have responded so magnificently to the Covid pandemic.
“There are big challenges ahead as NHS staff continue to deal with significant pressures while maintaining the roll-out of the hugely successful NHS vaccination programme and tackle backlogs that have inevitably built up in the face of rising Covid infections.
“However, the skill, determination and ‘can do’ spirit that NHS staff have shown in the face of the greatest challenge in the health service’s history means we face the future with confidence.”
Lord David Prior, chair of the NHS England board, said: “I am delighted that Amanda Pritchard has been appointed the new chief executive of the NHS. She could have had no better preparation for the role than serving as the NHS’ chief operating officer during the greatest health emergency in its history.
”Amanda is imbued with the values of the NHS and is perfectly qualified to lead the health service through challenging times.
“She has had first-hand experience of implementing digital technologies and worked closely with the life sciences industry and recognises how both can transform the way health care is delivered. She will build a great team and I and the board look forward to working with her.”
Prior to joining NHS England and NHS Improvement, Pritchard was chief executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London. She was also deputy chief executive at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust.
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Dr Chaand Nagpaul, chair of the British Medical Association (BMA) council, said Pritchard’s immediate priority should to address staff shortages within the NHS.
“Doctors, utterly exhausted mentally and physically, feel like there’s no end in sight, and we are losing talented and experienced professionals because they feel so undervalued,” he said. “Ms Pritchard needs to work to put their trust back in the profession by showing she recognises their plight and to put measures in place to support their wellbeing.
“It also incredibly important that genuine effort is made to tackle the inequalities present in the health service. We would expect Ms Pritchard to spearhead the necessary changes that are needed to do this and ensure a fairer working environment for all.”
“Urgent action must also be taken to address capacity pressures. This is directly contributing to our workforce crisis as staff feel overwhelmed by the sheer scale of the task ahead, with many saying they feel as though they have no choice but to leave or retire early.”
Royal College of Nursing general secretary and chief executive Pat Cullen said: “We expect Ms Pritchard to listen to nursing voices on the ground. Nursing staff across health and care have experienced a year like no other and need support like never before. With tens of thousands of vacancies, the new chief executive must urgently address staffing levels particularly areas in which ratios were diluted to unsafe levels during the pandemic.
“We hope she will continue to engage with us on the proposed reforms to the health and care system in England.”
Last week ministers announced a 3% pay increase for NHS staff in England, which was met with disappointment from unions.
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The BMA is to survey its members, senior doctors, about what they think of the pay award and whether they would like to take industrial action.
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