None of ‘usual suspects’ wants to replace Nicholson
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- Published: Friday, 06 September 2013 10:40
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In an interview with Health Service Journal, Sir Malcolm Grant, NHS England chair, has revealed that all of NHS England’s current national directors have ruled themselves out of replacing Sir David Nicholson. He also said he will consider people ‘from outside the UK and with no health service experience as candidates to be the organisation’s chief executive.’
Sir Malcolm emphasised he was beginning a “genuinely open and global search” and saw the appointment as an “opportunity to break from the past and to consider candidates who may not have had any NHS or health related experience”. He said NHS England’s board had drawn up job requirements specifically so it was not “confined to [individuals with] a lifetime in the NHS, or even of significant experience in the NHS”.
He emphasised the role was different to that of NHS chief executive, to which Sir David was appointed in 2007. “What we’re doing is recruiting somebody to lead NHS England, the commissioning side,” he said. Although “candidates will need to demonstrate their ability to have a grip”, he said, NHS England’s leaders “don’t have a responsibility for the provider side”. The NHS system now includes many “largely autonomous bodies over which our new chief executive will not have control. So the new role, I would say, is one of advocacy, inspiration and leadership,” Sir Malcolm said.
Sir Malcolm said he hoped to shortlist candidates in September or October, and appoint shortly afterwards. The appointment will be made by NHS England’s non-executive directors but must be approved by the health secretary. Sir Malcolm said the Department of Health would be “briefed [throughout] the process” and indicated ministers would have the opportunity to veto candidates.
Sir Malcolm said all of NHS England’s national directors had decided not to apply. Interim deputy chief executive Dame Barbara Hakin, medical director Sir Bruce Keogh and policy director Bill McCarthy had been considered possible candidates.
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