Amanda Pritchard, the first woman to hold the position of Chief Executive at NHS England, has formally announced her decision to step down at the end of this financial year.
Pritchard, who has been at the helm since August 2021, has led the NHS through one of the most challenging periods in its 76-year history.
Amanda Pritchard's tenure as Chief Executive and previously as Chief Operating Officer since 2019, has been marked by significant achievements and reforms. Under her leadership, the NHS navigated the Omicron wave of Covid-19, ensuring the protection of millions of adults in England through a comprehensive booster vaccine programme. She also spearheaded the publication of the first-ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan, a crucial step in addressing the workforce challenges faced by the health service.
During her time in office, Pritchard oversaw a reduction in NHS England's headcount by over a third, achieving nearly £500 million in savings to reinvest in frontline care. She played a pivotal role in the implementation of the Health and Care Act 2022, which saw the replacement of almost 200 Clinical Commissioning Groups with 42 Integrated Care Boards (ICBs). Her tenure also witnessed major advancements in the NHS's digital infrastructure, including the expansion of services available through the NHS App and the rollout of virtual wards.
Pritchard's leadership was instrumental in forging groundbreaking partnerships aimed at improving patient care. Notable initiatives include the NHS Genomic Medicine Strategy, the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, and the development of CAR-T cancer therapies.
Pritchard 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.
“We always knew the recovery period after a once-in-a-century pandemic was going to be incredibly challenging, and 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.
“From the rollout of Community Diagnostic Centres and mental health teams in schools, to world leading cancer vaccines and the development of the App, the NHS now feels very different to when I became chief executive over three and a half years ago.
“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”.
Sir James Mackey will take over as Transition CEO of NHS England, working closely with Amanda Pritchard for the next month before formally assuming the role on 1st April. Mackey, currently the Chief Executive of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and National Director of Elective Recovery, brings a wealth of experience in leadership at local, regional, and national levels. His remit will include radically reshaping how NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) collaborate.
Amanda Pritchard's career with the NHS began in 1997 as a graduate management trainee after studying at Oxford University. She has held various management positions, including Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust and Deputy Chief Executive at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust. Her dedication and contributions have left an indelible mark on the NHS, setting the stage for continued improvements and innovations in patient care.
As Amanda Pritchard prepares to step down, the NHS stands poised to build on the solid foundations she has laid, with Sir James Mackey ready to lead the organisation into its next chapter.
In response to the news of Pritchard’s resignation, NHS Confederation Chief Executive Matthew Taylor commented:
“On behalf of our members, I would like to thank Amanda for her leadership of NHS England over the last three and a half years.
“During her tenure, she has helped the NHS to navigate pivotal moments including the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent recovery efforts, the advent of integrated care systems and primary care networks, the NHS’s first workforce strategy and dealing with the impact of industrial action and significant funding boosts. As the first woman in the NHS’s history to hold this post, her appointment was a landmark occasion for the sector and its staff.
“While her role has seen her face many challenges, including constraints on capital, rising demand for services and ill-health, the large-scale restructuring of NHS England, and navigating six health secretaries, her commitment to the service has been evident in everything she has done.
“I have enjoyed the opportunity to work closely with Amanda and hope that she will be able to continue supporting the NHS.
“As we look to the future, we remain committed to working collaboratively with NHS England and Jim Mackey as its transitional chief executive to continue building on the progress made to support the NHS and as work continues to develop the ten-year plan.”
Image credit: iStock and NHS England
