• Professor Sir Bruce Keogh to step down as NHS England medical director
• Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust will welcome Professor Keogh as new chair
• We say Sir Bruce has walked a difficult tightrope with integrity and professionalism and has commanded the confidence of providers, patients and politicians

Professor Sir Bruce Keogh has announced he will step down as NHS England’s national medical director at the end of the year.

He will then take up a new role as chair of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust.

Responding to Sir Bruce’s announcement, the chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson, said:

He has commanded the confidence of providers, patients and politicians alike.

"Bruce has walked a difficult tightrope with integrity, professionalism and great skill.

"It is vital that the public should have confidence in the ability of the NHS to deliver high quality care, and Bruce has provided a credible voice of wisdom and experience on some difficult issues. He has commanded the confidence of providers, patients and politicians alike.

"We will miss him in his NHS England role but are delighted that he is going to become chair of one of our member trusts."