We are delighted to share the news that St Anne’s alumna, Amanda Pritchard, has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of NHS England. This will make her the first woman in the history of the NHS to hold the post, which she will take up on Sunday 1 August.
Commenting on her appointment, Amanda said: “I am honoured to lead the NHS, particularly as the first woman chief executive of an organisation whose staff are more than three quarters female.
“I have always been incredibly proud to work in the health service but never more so than over the last 18 months as nurses, doctors, therapists, paramedics, pharmacists, porters, cleaners and other staff have responded so magnificently to the Covid pandemic.
“There are big challenges ahead as NHS staff continue to deal with significant pressures while maintaining the roll-out of the hugely successful NHS vaccination programme and tackle backlogs that have inevitably built up in the face of rising Covid infections.
“However the skill, determination and ‘can do’ spirit that NHS staff have shown in the face of the greatest challenge in the health service’s history means we face the future with confidence.”
Amanda takes up the role after serving as the NHS’ Chief Operating Officer (COO) for two years.
She first joined the NHS as a graduate management trainee in 1997 after leaving St Anne’s, where she studied Modern History.