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CHANGES TO SUPPORT QUALITY, INNOVATION, PRODUCTIVITY AND PREVENTION IN THE NHS

News Release issued by the Government News Network on 30 June 2009

Mr Easton, currently chief executive of the South Central Strategic Health Authority, has commenced work in this new role during a period of transition from the SHA. Working to the NHS Chief Executive David Nicholson, Mr Easton will help drive major efficiency savings whilst improving the quality of service.

The new NHS National Director for Improvement and Efficiency will advise on changes needed to support the NHS in delivering its quality and efficiency commitments through a greater focus on quality, innovation, productivity and prevention (QIPP). This will allow the NHS to drive up quality whilst improving productivity - a challenge which means harnessing and spreading innovation and new ideas. QIPP will be key to building upon the success and great progress made in implementing the commitments set out last year in Lord Darzi’s High Quality Care for All.

David Nicholson will take a personal responsibility for QIPP, making it a significant part of his day to day work. It will also be the primary focus for the NHS Management Board. Jim Easton will remain a member of the NHS Management Board.

Jim Easton said:

“I am really excited about the new role. Over the past year, the NHS has put in place the most compelling and ambitious, patient-focused vision. We must plan to deliver significant efficiency savings whilst remaining true to our vision of high quality care for all.

“I am sad to be leaving South Central, but could not resist such an important role which is crucial for the success of the regional visions that I, and other SHA chief executives, have spent the past two years working on.”

NHS Chief Executive, David Nicholson, said:

“I have no doubt about the scale of the challenge ahead. We are in a strong position in terms of our finances over the next two years, our strong track record of delivery and high levels of confidence in us among our patients and public. We must put all of this to good use as we plan for the future.

“I want to make clear that quality, innovation, productivity and prevention is not a top-down, national initiative. It is about the NHS working in different ways to ensure that we deliver the highest quality care. Making this a reality requires action at all levels of the system – from front-line clinicians to local providers and commissioners, SHAs, to the Department of Health and others at a national level. We will engage with every Board across the NHS to help to shape this.”

Earlier this month Mark Britnell, the Department of Health’s Director General for NHS Commissioning and Systems Management, was offered a position at KPMG.

Commenting on Mark Britnell’s departure, David Nicholson said:

“Mark has been a great colleague over the past two years and has made an impressive contribution to the NHS. I wish him well for the future. I am determined to keep up the momentum of reform that I brought Mark in to start.”

Gary Belfield, Director of Commissioning, will replace Mr Britnell on an interim basis as acting Director General for Commissioning and System Management. David Nicholson will be considering how the different directorates in the Department can best work to support the NHS in the light of QIPP and other changes.

Jim Easton’s role assumes accountability for the NHS Productivity Unit which is led by Margaret Edwards and was previously accountable to David Flory, director general for NHS finance, performance and operations. This post will also take over the sponsorship role for the NHS Institute for Innovation and Improvement which was previously held by Mark Britnell, Director General for NHS Commissioning and Systems Management. It also takes on accountability for Interim Management and Support (IMAS).Under the rules on the acceptance of outside appointments by Crown servants, Mark Britnell applied for permission to accept the KPMG appointment. On the advice of the Advisory Committee on Business Appointments, the Prime Minister approved the application subject to a waiting period of three months from his last day of service, and to the condition that Mr Britnell should not become personally involved in lobbying the UK Government for a period of 12 months from the same date. Mr Britnell has therefore stepped aside from his post at DH prior to taking up his position with KPMG in the Autumn.For further information, please contact the Department of Health press office on 020 7210 5221.