NHS England’s chief executive Amanda Pritchard has resigned and will stand down from the role at the end of next month.
The commissioner said that after discussions with health secretary Wes Streeting ‘over recent months’, Ms Pritchard has ‘formally’ notified NHS England’s board that she will stand down at the end of this financial year.
NHS England’s director for elective recovery Sir James Mackey will be taking over as transition chief executive for the next month, before taking up post formally on April 1.
Mr Pritchard’s resignation comes after a period of intense criticism of the management of the health service, including from influential MPs.
Last month, Ms Pritchard and chief financial officer Julian Kelly were grilled by MPs about their response to a report from the Public Accounts Committee which concluded there had been a lack of ‘fresh thinking’ and ‘decisive action’ to meet policy ambitions to shift funding away from hospital to the community.
The report recommended that year on year NHS England should ensure a ‘greater proportion’ of its funding is spent in the community, including general practice, ‘in line with its own policy ambition’.
After the session, Health and Social Care Select Committee chair Layla Moran said they had been left ‘disappointed and frustrated’.
Today, Ms Pritchard said that she believed ‘now is the right time’ to leave the post.
She said: ‘It has been an enormous privilege to lead the NHS in England through what has undoubtedly been the most difficult period in its history.
‘I am immensely proud of the NHS response to Covid-19, and how we have delivered steady recovery from the inevitable impacts of the pandemic – with performance in urgent and emergency care, elective and cancer all improving over the past two years, while NHS teams delivered record levels of activity in primary care, community and mental health services, meaning millions more appointments for patients.
‘While it has been a hugely difficult decision for me to stand down, I believe now is the right time – with the NHS making continued progress in our recovery, and with the foundations firmly in place to deliver the 10 Year Health Plan.
‘The NHS is full of extraordinary people, who do extraordinary things every day for patients. The achievements I have listed above, and many more, are theirs – and I am confident they will continue to achieve incredible things for patients now, and into the future.’
Ms Pritchard has been chief executive of NHS England since August 2021 and chief operating officer since 2019.
Having joined the NHS in 1997 through the management training scheme, Ms Pritchard has held a variety of positions in the health services, including seven years as head of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust.
She also served as health team leader in the Cabinet Office’s delivery unit under Labour Prime Minister Tony Blair.
RCN general secretary and chief executive, Professor Nicola Ranger, said she had ‘valued’ Ms Prichard’s engagement with the union and the profession, most recently working with the RCN on how to face the crisis of ‘corridor care’.
She added that the RCN will ‘work closely’ with the interim chief executive and future chief executive on this and ‘many other issues’.
‘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.
‘The upcoming 10-year plan must recognise that the NHS functions at its best with a strong and valued nursing workforce,’ Professor Ranger said.
Mr Streeting said: ‘Amanda can be enormously proud of the leadership she has given in the face of the biggest health emergency for our country in modern history, as well as steering NHS England during turbulent political waters and six secretaries of state in her time as chief executive. She has led with integrity and unwavering commitment.
‘The start of the next financial year and the publication of the 10 Year Plan for Health will be pivotal moments on the road to reform. We will also require a new relationship between the Department of Health and Social Care and NHS England.
‘I am delighted that Jim Mackey has agreed to step up to provide new leadership for a new era for the NHS. He knows the NHS inside out, can see how it needs to change, and will work with the speed and urgency we need.’
This article was first published by our sister title Pulse
