The chief executive of NHS England has announced her resignation, to make way for the “radical reform” being sought for the health service to take place.
Amanda Pritchard, the first woman to hold the top position at NHS England, will step down in April, at the end of this financial year.
“I believe that the step change now required would be best served by new leadership in NHS England”
Amanda Pritchard
Ms Pritchard has been chief executive of the organisation since August 2021, leading the health service through the latter part of the Covid-19 pandemic.
She was previously NHS England’s chief operating officer, a role she took up in 2019.
In a resignation letter to health and social care secretary Wes Streeting, Ms Pritchard said she felt new leadership was required to deliver the government’s reform plans for the NHS.
She wrote: “We have discussed for some time that radical reform of the size and functions of NHS England and the DHSC [Department of Health and Social Care] is needed to best support local NHS systems and providers to deliver for patients and drive the government’s reform priorities, which you know I share.
“Having put in place the foundations for a closer working relationship, I believe that the step change now required would be best served by new leadership in NHS England.”
Sir James Mackey, national director of elective recovery at NHS England and chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, will be stepping up to the chief executive role on a secondment basis.
NHS England said Sir James had been given a “remit to radically reshape how NHS England and DHSC work together”.
“I have valued her engagement with the college and profession”
Nicola Ranger
Ms Pritchard’s resignation comes as the government drives forward with plans to reform the NHS, after an independent review by Lord Ara Darzi concluded that the health service was in a “critical condition”.
The government is currently undertaking consultation work to help create a new 10 Year Health Plan that will aim to achieve three key shifts.
These shifts are to move more care from hospitals to the community, to make better use of technology and to focus on preventing illness rather than just treating it.
In her letter to Mr Streeting, Ms Pritchard said she “wholeheartedly” supported these ambitions and she believed foundations had been laid during her tenure that would help them be delivered.
Following the announcement, leaders from across the health sector have paid tribute to Ms Pritchard’s leadership.
Professor Nicola Ranger, general secretary and chief executive of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN), said: “I wish to offer my thanks to Amanda Pritchard for her dedication and hard work in leading the NHS through an exceptionally challenging post-pandemic period.
“With demand rising faster than funding, the circumstances continue to be tough.
“I have valued her engagement with the college and profession, most recently on the deeply concerning issue of ‘corridor care’ in the NHS and how we tackle it together.”
Professor Ranger said the RCN would work closely with Sir James and whoever is appointed to the role permanently to continue to raise issues related to nursing.
“These leaders will have a significant job on their hands to turn the health service around and it is vital they understand the importance of nursing in achieving that goal,” she added.
“The upcoming 10-year plan must recognise that the NHS functions at its best with a strong and valued nursing workforce.”
More on Amanda Pritchard and her work at NHS England
