NHS chief executive Amanda Pritchard stepping down

Amanda Pritchard, the first female chief executive of the NHS in England, is stepping down from the role.

Her departure comes less than a month after two influential House of Commons committees discussed her suitability to lead the NHS through a period of what PM Keir Starmer has said will be the biggest overhaul of the service.

She took up the post in 2021 and has overseen some of the management of the Covid pandemic.

Before that, she was 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.

In a statement she said it had been a “hugely difficult decision for me to stand down”.

“It has been an enormous privilege to lead the NHS in England through what has undoubtedly been the most difficult period in its history.”