Simon Stevens to head NHS England
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- Published: Thursday, 24 October 2013 07:12
- Written by News Editor
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Simon Stevens, the former health adviser to Tony Blair, has been appointed NHS England’s new chief executive. He will take over from Sir David Nicholson on April 1. He is currently the president of the global health division of United Health Group, the US-based health company, having been there for nearly 10 years. He is reported to have asked to be paid 10% less than his predecessor.
Simon Stevens was Tony Blair’s health policy adviser from 2001 to 2004 and before that an adviser in the Department of Health from 1997. He worked in the NHS for more than 10 years, including as group manager at Guy’s and St Thomas’ Hospitals, a general manager of mental health services in North Tyneside and Northumberland, and a director of primary care in two health authorities.
In an article for Health Service Journal in 2009, he wrote about NHS dentistry: “With the half of total dental spending the NHS controls, is the fundamental public policy goal: a) to provide a full service for poorer people, or b) a tightly rationed core service for everyone? In other words, the money will buy you a comprehensive but non-universal service, or a universal non-comprehensive service Which is it to be? At the moment we have neither - and chronic confusion and dissatisfaction.”
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