NHS Chief to stand down at end of March

Wednesday 26 Feb 2025 @ 11:15
NHS England

Amanda Pritchard yesterday formally notified the NHS England Board of her decision to stand down as chief executive at the end of this financial year.

Amanda has been chief executive since August 2021 and Chief Operating Officer since 2019, leading the NHS through the most challenging period in its 76-year history.

Having discussed this with the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care over recent months – now that the NHS has turned a corner on recovery from the pandemic and the foundations are in place to make the necessary changes to the centre to best support the wider NHS – Amanda has decided now is the right time to stand down.

Sir James Mackey will be taking over as Transition CEO of NHS England, working closely with Amanda for the next month before taking up post formally on the first of April.

During Amanda’s time as chief executive, the NHS has responded to the Omicron wave of Covid-19, protecting tens of millions of adults in England with a booster vaccine, published the first ever NHS Long Term Workforce Plan and turned the corner on the inevitable impacts of the pandemic – with A&E waiting times, elective and cancer performance, acute sector productivity, and staff survey results all now improving.

Under Amanda’s leadership, NHS England has also reduced its headcount by over a third and already made savings of nearly £500 million to reinvest in frontline care. At the same time she has overseen reforms in the Health and Care Act 2022, including the replacement of almost 200 Clinical Commissioning Groups with 42 ICBs; major improvements in the NHS’ digital infrastructure, including far more services available through the NHS App and the rollout of virtual wards; and the forging of groundbreaking partnerships to improve care options for patients, including the NHS Genomic Medicine Strategy, the Cancer Vaccine Launch Pad, and CAR-T cancer therapies.

Jim will step in on a secondment basis, with a remit to radically reshape how NHS England and DHSC work together. To ensure a smooth transition, he will work closely with Amanda until the end of her time in post.

He is currently the Chief Executive of Newcastle Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and National Director of Elective Recovery, with demonstrable experience of leadership at a local, regional and national level.

Jim has previous experience of national leadership within the NHS – notably during his previous tenure as Chief Executive of NHS Improvement.

The first woman in the health service’s history to hold the post of chief executive, Amanda began her NHS career as a graduate management trainee in 1997 after studying at Oxford University and has held a variety of other NHS management positions.

Before joining NHS England in 2019, she served as Chief Executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, was previously Deputy Chief Executive at Chelsea and Westminster NHS Foundation Trust and also served as a health team leader in the Prime Minister’s Delivery Unit.

Amanda Pritchard, NHS chief executive yesterday 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”.

Wes Streeting, Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, yesterday 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.”

Sir James Mackey yesterday said:

“I have always been very proud to work for the NHS and it will be an honour to lead the service through the next phase as we radically reshape the role of NHS England and work with the Government to build an NHS that is fit for the future through the 10 Year Health Plan.

“The NHS has experienced the most challenging period in its history – not only the shock of the pandemic but picking up the pieces after. Amanda has done an extraordinary job of leading the NHS through this difficult period.

“I am sad to be stepping away from Newcastle Hospitals, and it has been a privilege to be part of the dedicated and talented team there over the last 14 months. I have learned a great deal from colleagues there as we have successfully tackled some difficult issues and made significant improvements. I look forward to rejoining them in due course.”

Richard Meddings, chair of NHS England yesterday said:

“While I understand Amanda’s wish to stand down to facilitate the reshaping of the roles and relationship between NHSE and the DHSC, this is a huge loss for the NHS.

“Under her leadership, the NHS has delivered a huge amount for patients – in the face of pandemic recovery, unprecedented strikes and consecutive even busier winter periods, the NHS has continued to improve performance, reform and innovate. And the NHS in England today is delivering record levels of healthcare as it faces ever increasing demand.

“Not only that but Amanda has driven forward significant productivity improvements and made billions of pounds of savings for taxpayers.

“Amanda is without doubt one of the most skilled and driven people I have had the privilege to work with and I wish her every success for the future.”

Former NHS chief executive Lord Simon Stevens, reflecting on his time working alongside Amanda Pritchard, yesterday said:

“Having been a widely respected chief executive of Guy’s and St Thomas’ hospitals, Amanda then agreed to step up and serve as NHS chief operating officer and subsequently CEO under some of the most demanding circumstances the Health Service has ever faced. I am personally hugely grateful for her outstanding leadership as my deputy during Covid, when she played such a critical role in successfully leading the NHS through the pandemic.”

Former health secretary Sajid Javid yesterday said:

“Amanda’s departure is a great loss for NHS England. She has been a tireless NHS champion, showing exceptional leadership through the pandemic and recovery. Despite immense pressures, she has led with skill and dedication, achieving much for patients. I thank her for her service and wish her the very best.”

Former health secretary Jeremy Hunt yesterday said:

‘Amanda Pritchard has been an outstanding CEO in troubled times for the NHS. One of her biggest legacies will be the long term workforce plan which doubles the number of doctors we train. She will be greatly missed for the principled and effective way she got things done.”

Lord Ara Darzi yesterday said:

“I have known Amanda since she was at Chelsea and Westminster over 20 years ago and I can say that she has always been a true champion of the NHS.

“There is absolutely no doubt that Amanda has led the NHS through its most difficult periods in recovering from the shock of the pandemic – she should be immensely proud of the exceptional leadership she has shown during this time. I know Amanda will succeed in whatever she chooses to do next.”

Channel website: https://www.england.nhs.uk/

Original article link: https://www.england.nhs.uk/2025/02/nhs-chief-to-stand-down-at-end-of-march/

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NHS England

NHS rolls out discreet home-testing kits against cervical cancer for millions of women

25/08/2026 13:10:00

Nearly 4 million women will be offered HPV self-testing kits if they have not attended cervical screening appointments following invitations from the NHS in England.

The NHS is starting to roll out the new self-testing kits from today to encourage more women to complete their potentially lifesaving screening to detect human papillomavirus (HPV), which can increase the risk of cervical cancer.

England’s leading women’s health doctor described the move as a “gamechanger” given that around a third of those eligible aren’t up to date with their cervical screening, and this test provides a more “discreet and convenient option” for them.

The self-testing kit contains a swab, similar to a long cotton bud, which is used to collect a sample from the vagina. The sample is then posted back to the NHS for free, where it is checked for high-risk HPV.

If high-risk HPV is found, individuals will be invited to book a follow-up cervical screening appointment at their GP surgery or sexual health clinic, where a nurse or doctor will take a small sample from the cervix to check for cell changes.

Cervical screening helps prevent cervical cancer by checking for high-risk types of HPV. It is a common virus that can cause changes to cells in the cervix. These changes can usually be treated before cancer develops.

Women who are eligible will start receiving invitations today via the NHS App, text message, email or letter, and once invited they will be able to order a free kit through the NHS App or their NHS online account.

This is the next major step the NHS is taking in its pledge to eliminate cervical cancer by 2040, by making it as easy as possible for people to get the lifesaving HPV vaccination and increasing cervical screening attendance.

Dr Sue Mann, National Clinical Director for Women’s Health at NHS England, said: “Screening saves thousands of lives each year by preventing cancers and catching them earlier, but only around two-thirds of women are attending cervical screening appointments when invited by the NHS.

“Offering millions of women an alternative test they can do from the comfort of their own homes will be a gamechanger – making it easier than ever for them to get tested for HPV.

“There are lots of reasons that may stop women from getting their cervical screening – embarrassment, lack of time, or worries about discomfort – and these kits provide a discreet and convenient option we hope will encourage more women to take up the life-saving test.

“So, if you’re invited to take part, please order a test – it’s a simple swab you can do at home in minutes.”

Cervical screening appointments with a clinician remain the best way to help prevent cervical cancer, but HPV self-testing is being introduced by the NHS as an additional choice for people who have not taken up previous invitations.

HPV self-testing is an invitation-only offer and is being rolled out in phases across England as part of the NHS Cervical Screening Programme, starting with those aged between 30 and 65, who have not attended cervical screening following previous invitations.

The national rollout comes on the back of the YouScreen trial run by North London cancer alliances in collaboration with NHS England and King’s College London in 2021, which found offering self-testing kits to under-screened women at their GP practice or at home could boost the numbers screened in England by about 400,000 each year.

The UK National Screening Committee used evidence from this trial in its recommendation to roll this out wider.

The latest figures show that 68.8% of eligible women were up to date with their cervical screening – below the NHS England target of 80%. This means around 4 million women in England are not up to date with their routine check-up.

Women aged 24-64 are invited for cervical screening by the NHS every five years, or more frequently if HPV is detected.

Anyone who has been invited for cervical screening can still book an appointment at any time, even if the invitation was sent months or years ago.

It is still important to attend cervical screening appointments if you have been vaccinated against HPV as the vaccine does not provide protection from all types of HPV, so there is a still a small chance of getting cervical cancer.

People who routinely attend for a cervical screening test with a clinician at their GP practice or sexual health clinic should continue to book their appointments as normal.

Health and Social Care Secretary Yvette Cooper said: “Cervical cancer is preventable – but that’s why we want to make it as easy and convenient as possible for women to keep up with their screening.

“These free self-testing kits will be offered to four million women who are currently behind on their screening to make it easier for as many women as possible to keep themselves healthy and safe.

“This is the future NHS we are building – there for all of us when we need it, and acting as early as possible to stop preventable deaths.”

Cancer Research UK’s Chief Executive, Michelle Mitchell, said: “Cervical screening is a powerful tool that saves lives – it can prevent cervical cancer or spot it at an earlier stage when treatment is more likely to be successful.

“While it’s best for cervical screening to be done by a nurse or doctor, there are barriers that make it challenging for some people to attend. At-home HPV self-testing kits will help more people take part in a way that works for them.

“If people receive their cervical screening or self-testing kit invitation, please consider taking up the offer and encourage loved ones to do the same. Beating cervical cancer means beating it for everyone, and this move brings us closer to that goal.”

Athena Lamnisos, Chief Executive Officer at The Eve Appeal, said: “There are many reasons why those eligible for cervical screening don’t attend.

“Challenges around the type of test it is, limited awareness around HPV and its role in cancer development, as well as practical barriers such as problems around booking and attending an appointment, stop many from going.

“Cervical screening is designed to prevent cervical cancer rather than respond to symptoms, attending a clinic requires people to actively prioritise an appointment among the many competing demands of everyday life.

“Self-testing which can be done at home will be a step-change for many. We have the incredible opportunity to see the back of cervical cancer. How brilliant would that be? But to achieve this, we need to support everyone eligible to attend screening.

“At Eve we welcome the rollout of this programme and its focus on the audiences who need it most in the first stage of the screening pathway. Looking to the future, we hope that self-testing will provide the under-screened and never screened with a new option to help address some of the key barriers.

“This is not a replacement for clinician screening, and we will continue to work with and support those attending their traditional cervical screening, to help make their appointments more comfortable and accessible.

“The NHS has set a 2040 target for eliminating cervical cancer. We hope that rolling out self-testing will help us reach it.”

Dawn Bryant, 62, from Hertfordshire, had cancerous cells found early thanks to NHS cervical screening and feels extremely lucky that it was detected and treated before the cancer progressed any further.

She says cervical screening may have saved her life and is encouraging other women who haven’t had theirs yet or have put it off, to book an appointment or do the at-home HPV test if invited.

“My nan died of cervical cancer when I was only 11 so I know how difficult it can be and how important cervical screening is.

“A screening test when I was 32 found I had severe high-grade cell changes, and after further testing I was told it was cancer.

“I am so lucky it was found at an early stage and could be easily treated. I had some surgery to remove the cells, but I didn’t have to have chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or anything. It was a very scary time, but who knows what would have happened if I’d delayed having the test.

“Since then, I have been regularly monitored, and had many tests and colposcopies, and although they can be a bit uncomfortable, I would not think twice about having them done again.

“I know lots of women who have put off having screening, and sadly, some who have been diagnosed with advanced cervical cancer after putting it off for years.

“It is so important women go for these check-ups or do the home-testing kit if invited. It doesn’t take very long and if you’re worried or have questions, the staff are excellent and will talk to you and help answer any fears you’ve got.”

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