Defence chief joins new hospital programme

A new director has joined the top team behind the major programme to build “new hospitals” across England.

Darren Crook CBE has joined as programme delivery director, based in NHS England, for the New Hospital Programme.

He has previously held leadership roles within the defence sector. Most recently, he was director of land equipment at Defence Equipment and Support, an arm’s length body of the Ministry of Defence. Mr Crook has held the new position in NHP since August. 

Mr Crook, a commissioned officer in the British Army, replaces Saurabh Bhandari, who moved to the Office for Government Property earlier this year. 

NHP’s delivery team is led by Morag Stuart at NHSE, who was previously director general commercial at DE&S. 

Mr Crook’s appointment comes amid a review of the NHP by the Labour government who have promised to come up with a “realistic” and “costed” timeline for the programme that has been plagued by delays and spiralling costs. Health secretary Wes Streeting has promised an update shortly.

The scheme was originally set up to deliver 40 “new hospitals” promised by former prime minister Boris Johnson.

NHP recently went out to recruitment for a new procurement director. They will report to Richard Lennard, who joined as commercial director earlier this year from Sellafield nuclear plant.