Letter from Richard
Meddings, Chair of NHS England
Dear Candidate,
Thank you for expressing an
interest in the Non-Executive Director roles on the ‘new’ NHS England Board. ‘New’
because you would be joining us at a time of opportunity when, from 1 July
2022, following legislation the structure of the NHS will see significant
transformation. This will involve the merger of a number of the central
organisations into the new NHS England and separately the emergence of 42
Integrated Care Systems (ICS) across England.
The NHS today faces deep
challenges, many of which have been building for several years and a number of
which have been worsened by the pandemic. The NHS arguably faces its greatest
test. Immediate pressures come from the extent of the waiting lists, from
urgent and emergency care performance, in accessing primary care and from
acknowledged shortages in our workforce.
There exist questions over
the physical capacity, be it estate and infrastructure, bed numbers and
diagnostic scanners or indeed the shape and capacity of the workforce. And
there exists a range of potential solutions, including investment programmes,
potential changes in working practices, the application of technology and both
immediate and longer-term workforce planning.
Additionally, continued
strong focus on mental health, on maternity services, on the evolving model of
primary care, on cancer, on cardiovascular, on the enabling potency of Life
Sciences, on the digital agenda and its capacity to transform delivery, to name
just a few of the other issues the NHS pursues, remains essential.
The NHS is perhaps better
understood as a whole industry, rather than as an organisation, of different
interests and where successful collaboration and agreed prioritisation are key
to improving performance. This is why we in the new NHS England will empower and
support ICS going forward. Putting the patient first and at the heart of our
thinking is an essential ‘cut through’ to our processes and programmes.
So, the agenda is broad,
there is plenty to do and the importance of delivery but also efficiency are key.
The Board needs individuals with a range of specific skills but as important a
deep commitment to improving health and care in England and a desire to
contribute to collective deliberations that will ensure that NHS England is fit
for the challenges ahead. The Board needs individuals who will not only be
effective participants at Board and committee levels but who are also committed
to proactive engagement outside the Board to the NHS and to its front line. Our
people are key and therefore understanding directly the challenges they face is
hugely important.
One of the essential
foundations of a good society is how well it looks after the whole of its
population and their health. At the heart of the NHS is the central tenet
“accessible to all, free at the point of the delivery”. To do this we rely upon a passionate, multi
skilled, committed workforce. As the population grows, as people live longer,
and as medical science discovers ever new ways to improve outcomes so the
demands on the NHS continue to grow but also to change. Keeping the interests
of the patient as the key determinant of our decisions is key.
Thank you for taking the
time to apply and I look forward to meeting you in due course.