Exclusive: NHS England chair named
The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed its preferred candidate to be the new chair of NHS England.
Penny Dash, the chair of North West London Integrated Care Board, is set to take over from Richard Meddings, who steps down in March.
The former McKinsey & Co partner led a damning investigation of the Care Quality Commission for government last year, and is due to report on subsequent reviews of NHS safety and quality oversight shortly.
Dr Dash will be subject to a pre-appointment hearing with the Commons health and social care committee. MPs can recommend for or against the appointment, although the government is not required to take its advice.
During her time, the ICB has focused on increasing productivity, particularly in elective care. It has also sought to develop its borough-level place teams, and was caught up in controversy over plans for more streaming of patients in primary care.
NWL ICB has led the way in the capital on the development of integrated neighbourhood teams and she has been vocal on the way “vested interests” have held them back.
Dr Dash has previously been a vice chair of the King’s Fund, a non-executive director of foundation trust regulator Monitor, and director of strategy at the Department of Health and Social Care from 2000-01.
Mr Meddings announced his departure in October, after Wes Streeting made clear he wanted a new figure with a health background, who he could trust to help with its delivery and reform agenda, and to work closely with ministers, who are now taking a bigger role in setting NHS policy.
The former banker joined NHSE as chair in 2022 and has made clear he was keen to stay.
Dr Dash started her career as a doctor in London, working in hospitals and public health, before becoming a strategy and management adviser. She has worked extensively as a healthcare consultant, including two decades at McKinsey as a senior partner and lead for healthcare in Europe.
Commenting on the appointment, Lord Victor Adebowale, chair of the NHS Confederation, said Dr Dash’s experience as a chair of an ICB that “serves a diverse population of over two million people makes her an “exceptional appointment”.
He added: “It would be incredibly exciting to see one of our most dynamic and ambitious ICB chairs take on this role and to support the NHS to further embrace the potential of system-working.”
Updated at 9.29am on 14 February to correct dates of Dr Dash’s time at DHSC