BREAKING NEWS: Joint executive DHSC and NHSE team named

A new joint executive team to mark bringing back NHSE into the DHSC has been revealed.

Sir Jim Mackey © Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Sir Jim Mackey © Newcastle Upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

The team will provide unified leadership across both organisations, combining policy and delivery and manage directors from related work areas from 3 November and begin to combine resources.

The move follows Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer's announcement of the abolition of NHSE in March.

The single joint executive team will comprise:

  • Samantha Jones – DHSC permanent secretary
  • Jim Mackey – chief executive of NHS England
  • Professor Chris Whitty – chief medical officer
  • Tom Riordan – chief operating officer/second permanent secretary
  • Matthew Style – director general, system development
  • Duncan Burton – chief nursing officer for England
  • Catherine Frances – director general, global, public health and emergencies
  • Professor Lucy Chappell – chief scientific adviser and director general, science and research
  • Sally Warren – interim director general, adult social care (recruitment to the permanent role began in July)
  • TBC – interim director general, technology and data (recruitment to the permanent role will take place during autumn)
  • Elizabeth O'Mahony – interim director general, finance (recruitment to the permanent role began in August)
  • David Probert – interim director general, performance and delivery (and continuing as NHS England's interim deputy chief executive)
  • Jo Lenaghan – interim director general, people (recruitment to the permanent role began in August)
  • Dr Claire Fuller and Professor Meghana Pandit – interim medical directors (recruitment to the permanent role will take place during autumn)
  • TBC – interim director general, strategy and healthcare policy (recruitment to the permanent role began in July)
  • TBC – interim director general, commercial and growth (recruitment to the permanent role began earlier in September).

Joint regional teams are also being established to serve as the delivery arm of the centre, driving improvement and performance locally.

Regional leadership:

  • Louise Shepherd – regional director, North West
  • Fiona Edwards – regional director, North East & Yorkshire
  • Dale Bywater – regional director, Midlands
  • Clare Panniker – regional director, East of England
  • Caroline Clarke – regional director, London
  • Sue Doheny – regional director, South West (while Elizabeth O'Mahony is NHS England's chief financial officer)
  • Anne Eden – regional director, South East (until she leaves at the end of March).

Existing DHSC regional public health directors will begin to report into regional directors in the same area from 3 November, subject to appropriate consultation, while continuing to work with the director general of public health and emergencies.

National Priority Programmes are also being set up to drive delivery of the Government's key health priorities.

National Priority Programmes:

  • Mark Cubbon – National Priority Programme director for planned care
  • Sarah-Jane Marsh – National Priority Programme director for urgent and emergency care
  • Duncan Burton – interim National Priority Programme director for maternity, women's health, children & young people
  • Dr Claire Fuller – interim National Priority Programme director for neighbourhood health
  • Recruitment to the role of National Priority Programme director for mental health, learning disability & autism will start shortly
  • Dr Amanda Doyle will continue as NHSE's national director of primary care and community services and Glen Burley will continue as NHSE's financial reset and accountability director, both reporting to the NHSE chief executive.

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