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NHSE names two new directors

Published on: 28 Sep 2023
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NHS England has named two directors for new posts as part of its ongoing restructure.

The medical director for transformation and secondary care post, which was held on an interim basis by Vin Diwakar, has been split into two roles, according to a message sent to staff in the transformation directorate on Friday.

Dr Diwakar will remain the national director for transformation, the role held by Tim Ferris before his departure earlier this year.

But the secondary care element of the post has been passed to Stella Vig, who becomes medical director for secondary care and quality, alongside her existing role, as national clinical director for elective care. The role is initially on a six-month fixed-term contract. Ms Vig, a consultant surgeon, also retains her senior leadership and clinical role at Croydon Health Services Trust.  

Dr Diwakar welcomed Ms Vig in a message to the directorate’s staff. He added: “Stella’s new role is pivotal in supporting the national medical director [Sir Stephen Powis] and the national chief operating officer [Sir Jim Mackey] to deliver shared national priorities across urgent and emergency care, elective, cancer, mental health, community and diagnostic recovery strategies.”

NHSE has also appointed Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals Foundation Trust medical director Erika Denton, on a six-month secondment as medical director for transformation, as part of the national medical director’s team.

Professor Denton, a former NHSE national clinical director for diagnostics, is the second high-profile secondment from NNUH, following the Norfolk trust’s CEO Sam Higginson joining NHSE’s elective recovery team.

Her portfolio includes supporting Dr Diwakar and providing clinical input for transformation projects including the Sinker review into how best to utilise the health innovation networks, the re-branded academic health and science networks. 

She will also be tasked with working closely with regional directors of digital transformation, regional medical and nurse directors and chief clinical information officers.

“Erika will continue with her clinical work at [NNUH], as well as some areas of her existing portfolio throughout her secondment,” Dr Diwakar added in his email to staff.