Amanda Pritchard has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of NHS England.
Ms Pritchard will be the first woman in the health service’s history to hold the post, which she will take up on Sunday August 1. As NHS chief executive, she will be responsible for an annual budget of more than £130 billion while ensuring that everyone in the country receives high quality care.
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‘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,’ said Ms Pritchard.
‘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.’
Ms Pritchard takes up the role after serving as the NHS’ Chief Operating Officer for two years. She began her NHS career as a graduate management trainee in 1997 after studying at Oxford University and has held a variety of other NHS management positions. Before joining NHS England and NHS Improvement in 2019 she served as Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London.
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‘It is a pleasure to announce that Amanda Pritchard will be the new Chief Executive of the NHS. Amanda brings an unparalleled wealth and depth of experience, having worked in the NHS for nearly twenty five years, and at this crucial moment for our country frontline staff will value her operational experience and steady hand,’ said Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid.
‘I look forward to working closely with Amanda on the challenges ahead, and am delighted we are appointing the first woman to the post in NHS history.’