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Former aide to Tony Blair to become new head of NHS England New head of NHS England to be Tony Blair's former health advisor
(about 2 hours later)
Tony Blair's adviser on health when he was prime minister has been handed the "exceptionally challenging" role as the new boss of NHS England. Simon Stevens, 47, a former Labour councillor turned government special adviser in New Labour's early years in power, will succeed Sir David Nicholson as the chief executive of NHS England on 1 April 2014.Tony Blair's adviser on health when he was prime minister has been handed the "exceptionally challenging" role as the new boss of NHS England. Simon Stevens, 47, a former Labour councillor turned government special adviser in New Labour's early years in power, will succeed Sir David Nicholson as the chief executive of NHS England on 1 April 2014.
Between 1997 and 2001, Birmingham-born Stevens was special adviser to Labour's first two health secretaries, Frank Dobson and Alan Milburn, with whom he devised the NHS Plan, launched in 2000.Between 1997 and 2001, Birmingham-born Stevens was special adviser to Labour's first two health secretaries, Frank Dobson and Alan Milburn, with whom he devised the NHS Plan, launched in 2000.
The plan is widely credited with reviving the service after it developed serious problems, such as lengthy waiting times, under John Major in the 1990s. He then advised Blair on the NHS until 2004, when he left to join the American private healthcare firm UnitedHealth.The plan is widely credited with reviving the service after it developed serious problems, such as lengthy waiting times, under John Major in the 1990s. He then advised Blair on the NHS until 2004, when he left to join the American private healthcare firm UnitedHealth.
The NHS Plan – Stevens describes himself as its "co-author" – kickstarted a massive and sustained increase in NHS funding and led to huge falls in waiting times for treatment, improved performance by A&E units, and better outcomes for patients with cancer and heart disease.The NHS Plan – Stevens describes himself as its "co-author" – kickstarted a massive and sustained increase in NHS funding and led to huge falls in waiting times for treatment, improved performance by A&E units, and better outcomes for patients with cancer and heart disease.
Stevens was offered the same £211,000 salary that Nicholson receives but has taken a voluntary 10% pay cut, to £189,900, to reflect the intense spending pressures the service is under, NHS England said.Stevens was offered the same £211,000 salary that Nicholson receives but has taken a voluntary 10% pay cut, to £189,900, to reflect the intense spending pressures the service is under, NHS England said.
The Guardian revealed this month that both David Cameron and Professor Sir Malcolm Grant, the chair of NHS England, who has been leading a worldwide search for Nicholson's replacement, wanted Stevens to take the post. The prime minister was so determined to land him that he invited him to Downing Street.The Guardian revealed this month that both David Cameron and Professor Sir Malcolm Grant, the chair of NHS England, who has been leading a worldwide search for Nicholson's replacement, wanted Stevens to take the post. The prime minister was so determined to land him that he invited him to Downing Street.
NHS sources say Stevens – a former NHS graduate trainee – has been the subject of sustained efforts over recent weeks to persuade him to take the job because, with an American wife and children, he was initially reluctant to return home from the US, where he is the president of UnitedHealth's global health division.NHS sources say Stevens – a former NHS graduate trainee – has been the subject of sustained efforts over recent weeks to persuade him to take the job because, with an American wife and children, he was initially reluctant to return home from the US, where he is the president of UnitedHealth's global health division.
Grant said Stevens had been appointed to "this exceptionally challenging leadership role for the NHS" because "he has huge experience, both national and global, and across all sectors, and is admired by healthcare professionals across the world for his commitment to the values of the NHS and to the provision of quality healthcare for all".Grant said Stevens had been appointed to "this exceptionally challenging leadership role for the NHS" because "he has huge experience, both national and global, and across all sectors, and is admired by healthcare professionals across the world for his commitment to the values of the NHS and to the provision of quality healthcare for all".
Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, praised Stevens' longstanding "passion for our universal health service free at the point of use" and said he would make a major contribution to the NHS's two big challenges: improving quality of care and keeping the service financially sustainable in the face of rising demand. Ruth Carnall, who was chief executive of NHS London until April, said that, in order to do that, Stevens would have to deliver the "radical transformation necessary" with resource constraints"the like of which we have not seen before, and in the face of public and political resistance to many of the changes currently proposed", such as centralising key services in fewer hospitals.Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, praised Stevens' longstanding "passion for our universal health service free at the point of use" and said he would make a major contribution to the NHS's two big challenges: improving quality of care and keeping the service financially sustainable in the face of rising demand. Ruth Carnall, who was chief executive of NHS London until April, said that, in order to do that, Stevens would have to deliver the "radical transformation necessary" with resource constraints"the like of which we have not seen before, and in the face of public and political resistance to many of the changes currently proposed", such as centralising key services in fewer hospitals.
Professor Chris Ham, chief executive of the King's Fund health thinktank, cautioned that the reduced power wielded by NHS England's boss as a result of the shakeup of the service in April will mean Stevens "treading a careful line between responding to the priorities of ministers on the one hand and, on the other, working collaboratively with colleagues from the other main national bodies to provide strong collective leadership for the NHS".Professor Chris Ham, chief executive of the King's Fund health thinktank, cautioned that the reduced power wielded by NHS England's boss as a result of the shakeup of the service in April will mean Stevens "treading a careful line between responding to the priorities of ministers on the one hand and, on the other, working collaboratively with colleagues from the other main national bodies to provide strong collective leadership for the NHS".
However, Ham added, he could think of no one better qualified to help the NHS tackle the most significant challenges it has faced in a generation.However, Ham added, he could think of no one better qualified to help the NHS tackle the most significant challenges it has faced in a generation.
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