• NHS England and Improvement have chosen the leader of a major hospital trust to be their national chief operating officer, effectively the deputy chief executive of the NHS.
• The role will be taken up by Amanda Pritchard, currently Guy's and St Thomas' Foundation Trust chief executive.
• The seven new regional directors of NHS England Improvement are expected to report to Ms Pritchard.
• Ms Pritchard currently sits on the NHS Providers board.
  
  

Responding to the appointment of Amanda Pritchard as the new chief operating officer for NHS England/Improvement, the chief executive of NHS Providers, Chris Hopson, said:

“This is a good appointment – for the NHS and for provider trusts.

“Amanda is well-placed to make a success of this key role, drawing on her strong background and record of delivery in the NHS provider sector.

“Her leadership and operational experience will stand her in good stead. As chief executive at Guy’s and St Thomas’, leading a trust delivering specialist hospital care and NHS community services, she understands the challenges and opportunities involved in working towards more integrated, joined up care for patients.

As chief executive at Guy’s and St Thomas’, leading a trust delivering specialist hospital care and NHS community services, she understands the challenges and opportunities involved in working towards more integrated, joined up care for patients.

“Her leadership of a Sustainability and Transformation Partnership (STP) and her contribution to the development of the NHS long term plan will also help to equip her for the challenges ahead.

“And through her role on the NHS Providers board, she has a good grasp of the needs of the whole provider sector.

Through her role on the NHS Providers board, she has a good grasp of the needs of the whole provider sector.

“These skills and qualities will be invaluable in her new role.

“It is also good to see such a senior executive post in the NHS arm’s-length bodies taken – for the first time – by a woman.

“Amanda’s appointment is well deserved, and we look forward to working with her.”