Amanda Pritchard

Amanda Pritchard is a British healthcare official and public policy analyst who has been the Chief Executive of NHS England since 1 August 2021. Pritchard previously served as chief operating officer of NHS England and as chief executive of NHS Improvement from 2019 to 2021.^[1][2][3] She was formerly chief executive of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust from January 2016 to July 2019, having been acting chief executive from October 2015 to January 2016.^[1][4]

Amanda Pritchard
Official portrait, c. 2021
Chief Executive of NHS England
Incumbent
Assumed office 1 August 2021
Preceded by	Simon Stevens
Chief Executive of NHS Improvement
In office 5 June 2019 – 3 August 2021
Succeeded by	Stephen Powis (interim)
Personal details
Born	1976 (age 47–48) Somerset
Children	3
Parent	John Pritchard (father)
Education	Durham Johnston Comprehensive School
Alma mater	St Anne's College, Oxford
Signature

Early and personal life

Pritchard was born in May 1976 in Somerset,^[5][6] the daughter of John Pritchard, later a Church of England bishop.^[7] She grew up in County Durham, attending Durham Johnston Comprehensive School.^[5] She graduated from St Anne's College at the University of Oxford with a degree in modern history. Whilst a student, she served as the Librarian of The Oxford Union.^[8]

Pritchard is married with three children.^[4]

Career

Pritchard joined the NHS Management Training Scheme in 1997^[3] and has worked for the NHS for her entire career.

In 2002, she became a manager at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.^[9][10][11] From 2005 to 2006, Pritchard served as the health team leader of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit under Tony Blair,^[12] before returning to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2006 as deputy chief executive, aged 29.^[3][9][13] Six years later she moved to Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust as chief operating officer and was appointed as its first-ever female chief executive in 2015.^[12]

On 5 June 2019,^[3] Pritchard moved to NHS England and NHS Improvement as COO of NHS England and CEO of NHS Improvement. Effectively the deputy CEO of the NHS,^[14] she led it operationally through COVID-19, the vaccine rollout, and its recovery, including service transformation, digitisation, and patient care improvements.^[15]

Long seen as the frontrunner to replace Simon Stevens as CEO of the NHS,^[16] it was announced on 28 July 2021 that Pritchard would be appointed as the next chief executive of NHS England; she took up the post on 1 August 2021 as the first woman in the role.^[17] On 3 August 2021^[18][19] she was replaced as CEO of NHS Improvement by Stephen Powis on an interim basis.^[20]

On 14 December 2021 she joined Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Sajid Javid in calling for volunteers to come forward to help with the COVID vaccine booster campaign.^[21]

The Labour Government elected in 2024 declared it had "full confidence" in Pritchard as head of the NHS.^[22]

References

1. "Amanda Pritchard". NHS Improvement. Archived from the original on 14 May 2020.
2. "Amanda Pritchard appointed NHS' COO and Chief Executive of NHS Improvement". Hospital Times. 7 June 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
3. "Amanda Pritchard appointed NHS' Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive of NHS Improvement" (Press release). NHS England. 5 June 2019. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
4. "Speakers | Amanda Pritchard". Healthcare Financial Management Association. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
5. "CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF THE SCHOOLS' MACE". English-Speaking Union. 15 May 2017. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
6. Sylvester, Rachel; Lay, Kat (13 January 2023). "'We've had 13,000 in hospital who didn't need to be there — they were fit': Amanda Pritchard interview". The Times. London. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
7. Dickinson, Katie (28 July 2021). "New NHS boss is ex Durham schoolgirl and former Bishop of Jarrow's daughter". Chronicle Live. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
8. "Amanda Pritchard appointed NHS Chief Executive". Oxfordshire CCG (Press release). 30 July 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
9. "Amanda Pritchard | Chief Operating Officer, NHS England and NHS Improvement". Healthcare Financial Management Association. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
10. "Amanda Pritchard | Chief Operating Officer, Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust". Bloomberg News. Archived from the original on 30 July 2021.
11. "Trust Board Minutes December 2005" (PDF). Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust. Archived (PDF) from the original on 26 September 2011.
12. Neville, Sarah (28 July 2021). "Amanda Pritchard named new head of NHS England". Financial Times. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
13. "Chief Executive set for new challenge". Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust (Press release). 3 January 2012. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
14. "Daily Insight: Making the cut". Health Service Journal. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
15. Jackson, Jasmine (28 July 2021). "Amanda Pritchard due to be confirmed as NHS chief executive". National Health Executive. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
16. Malnick, Edward (10 July 2021). "Sajid Javid: tax rise could be 'practical and obvious' solution to social care crisis". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
17. "Amanda Pritchard appointed NHS Chief Executive". NHS England (Press release). 28 July 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
18. West, Dave (4 August 2021). "NHSE names interim chief operating officer". Health Service Journal. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
19. "About us | NHS executive group". NHS England. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
20. "Board members". NHS England. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
21. "Prime Minister and Head of the NHS call for volunteers to support National Booster Effort". gov.uk (Press release). 14 December 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2022.
22. Illman, James; McLellan2024-07-01T04:58:00, Alastair. "Exclusive: Streeting has 'total confidence' in Amanda Pritchard". Health Service Journal. Retrieved 17 July 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)