Who is NHS England boss Amanda Pritchard and why did she quit?

The first female chief executive of the NHS in England, Amanda Pritchard, has announced she is stepping down from the role. This comes less than a month after two influential House of Commons committees debated her continuing in the role, as Prime Minister Keir Starmer plans for what he’s described as the biggest-ever overhaul of the NHS.

Mr Pritchard has confirmed her departure in a public statement, saying: "It has been an enormous privilege to lead the NHS in England through what has undoubtedly been the most difficult period in its history.". Over the last few weeks, she has come under intense scrutiny within her role, with the ex-executive herself acknowledging that “the recovery period after a once-in-a-century pandemic was going to be incredibly challenging”.

She added that necessary changes were needed to better support the NHS as a whole and now was the right time to stand down. However, she also pointed out that “the NHS has achieved a great deal in the face of historic pressure thanks to a relentless focus on innovation and reform”.

Ms Pritchard, along with her deputy, Julian Kelly, and two senior civil servants at the Department of Health and Social Care, has faced criticism for being complacent in her role. After questioning Ms Pritchard, MPs on the Health and Social Care Committee expressed disappointment and frustration at her "lengthy and diffuse answers".

Sir James Mackey, the current chief executive of Newcastle Hospitals, will take over as interim head of NHS England, the NHS has confirmed. He will work closely with Ms Pritchard over the next month before officially taking the helm in April. Ms Pritchard took up the post of NHS chief executive in 2021 during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Prior to that, she had a long history in both medicine and politics, having worked as NHS England's chief operating officer, head of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Trust in London, and an adviser in Tony Blair's government. She has worked in the NHS throughout her entire career and was long expected to step into the role of NHS CEO, before she finally moved from deputy to chief in 2021.

"Amanda can be enormously proud of the leadership she has given in the face of the biggest health emergency for our country in modern history, as well as steering NHS England during turbulent political waters and six secretaries of state in her time as chief executive,” he said.

Richard Meddings, chairman of NHS England, also described it as "a huge loss" for the NHS, adding: "Under her leadership, the NHS has delivered a huge amount for patients - in the face of pandemic recovery, unprecedented strikes and consecutive even busier winter periods, the NHS has continued to improve performance, reform and innovate.".