Chair of North West London ICB, Dr Penny Dash, has been named as the ‘preferred candidate’ for the next chair of NHS England, pending scrutiny by a group of MPs.
Dr Dash – an NHS doctor with a long history in management consultancy and policy roles – led the damning review of the CQC which found ‘significant failings’, including that there is a ‘lack of consistency’ and transparency in ratings of GP surgeries.
Before taking up her current leadership position at North West London ICB in 2021, Dr Dash was a senior partner at the management consultancy McKinsey for many years, and she had also been head of strategy for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in the early 2000s.
If appointed to the NHSE chair role after a successful public appointment process, Dr Dash will take over from Richard Meddings.
A DHSC notice said: ‘Penny Dash has been named as the government’s preferred candidate for the next chair of NHS England.
‘Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has invited the Health and Social Care Committee to hold a pre-appointment scrutiny hearing with Penny Dash.’
It added: ‘Following the select committee hearing, the committee will set out its views on the candidate’s suitability for the role. The Secretary of State will then consider the committee’s report before making a final decision on the appointment.’
In response to the appointment, Lord Victor Adebowale, chair of the NHS Confederation, said: ‘On behalf of our members, I would like to offer my congratulations to Dr Penny Dash on the news that she is the government’s preferred candidate for the new chair of NHS England.
‘Penny’s experience across public health, medicine, healthcare management and as chair of an integrated care board that serves a diverse population of over two million people, would make her an exceptional appointment to steer the NHS through its many challenges and to rebuild the health service.
‘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. This would serve NHS England well as it embarks on its restructuring while continuing to develop the Ten Year Health Plan.’
Last week it was revealed that North West London ICB was offering a £4m funding pot to PCNs who plan to improve access by 10%.
This 10% activity boost requirement for 2024/25 funding follows the ICB’s previous proposal, to deliver a ‘single point of triage’ for same-day, low complexity demand.
A version of this story was first published on our sister title Pulse.
