NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard has announced she is standing down after three and a half years in the role.
Ms Pritchard, the first woman to hold the post, said it had been ‘an enormous privilege to lead the NHS in England through what has undoubtedly been the most difficult period in its history’.
Her departure from the health service’s top job follows a meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Monday to discuss his plans to overhaul the service.
The move also comes just weeks after MPs on the cross-party Commons health and social care committee accused her of lacking the ‘drive and dynamism’ to radically reform the service.
But sources say her exit is amicable and that she has not been forced out.
In a statement today, she wrote that it had been a ‘hugely difficult decision for me to stand down’.
She added: ‘I am immensely proud of the NHS response to Covid, 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.
‘We always knew the recovery period after a once-in-a-century pandemic was going to be incredibly challenging.
Ms Pritchard – who has come in for criticism from MPs in recent weeks – said it had been ‘an enormous privilege to lead the NHS in England through what has undoubtedly been the most difficult period in its history’
Her departure from the health service’s top job follows a meeting with Health Secretary Wes Streeting on Monday to discuss his plans to overhaul the service
‘Whilst the timeliness and experience of care is still not good enough for too many people, the NHS has achieved a great deal in the face of historic pressure thanks to a relentless focus on innovation and reform.’
Ms Pritchard took on the role in 2021, having previously served as NHS England’s chief operating officer.
Before joining NHS England in 2019, she served as chief executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust in London.
But she has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks, with MPs on the Health and Social Care Committee saying earlier this month they were disappointed and frustrated by the ‘lengthy and diffuse answers’ she and other officials gave them under questioning.
Last week, she also admitted ‘we’re not all brilliant performers at committee hearings’ as she was challenged on the issue.
Speaking to BBC Breakfast, Ms Pritchard was asked whether she was the right person to lead the health service.
She said: ‘We are far from complacent. I mean, particularly they were talking to us about productivity, and spending public money wisely is an absolute priority for us.
‘Equally, I think I’ll be honest enough to say we’re not all brilliant performers at committee hearings, but it’s absolutely right that we are scrutinised by Parliament.’
The move also comes just weeks after MPs on the cross-party Commons health and social care committee accused her of lacking the ‘drive and dynamism’ to radically reform the service
Today, Wes Streeting said Ms Pritchard ‘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’.
He added: ‘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 for Health and Social Care and NHS England.’
Sir James Mackey will take over as ‘transition’ chief executive from the first of April on a secondment basis.
He is currently the Chief Executive of Newcastle Hospitals Foundation Trust and National Director of Elective Recovery.
