Amanda Pritchard
{{Short description|British healthcare official}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2025}}
{{use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Amanda Pritchard
| image = Amanda Pritchard official photo.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Official portrait, {{circa|2021}}
| office = Chief Executive of NHS England
| status =
| term_start = 1 August 2021
| term_end = 31 March 2025
| predecessor = Simon Stevens
| successor = James Mackey
| office1 = Chief Executive of NHS Improvement
| term_start1 = 5 June 2019
| term_end1 = 3 August 2021
| predecessor1 =
| successor1 = Stephen Powis (interim)
| father = John Pritchard
| education = Durham Johnston Comprehensive School
| alma_mater = St Anne's College, Oxford
| birth_place = Somerset
| birth_date = {{birth-date and age|May 1976}}{{citation needed|date=February 2025}}
| children = 3
| signature = Amanda Pritchard signature.png
| module = {{Listen|pos=center|embed=yes|filename=Amanda Pritchard speaks at COVID-19 press conference.ogg|title=Amanda Pritchard's voice|type=speech|description=Pritchard speaks at a government press conference on the COVID-19 pandemic
Recorded 30 November 2021}}
}}
Amanda Pritchard (born May 1976) was recently the Chief Executive of NHS England from 1 August 2021 until 31 March 2025. Previously, Pritchard was chief operating officer of NHS England and chief executive of NHS Improvement from 2019 to 2021.{{cite web|url=https://improvement.nhs.uk/person-detail/51/amanda-pritchard/?from_listing=89|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200514175142/https://improvement.nhs.uk/person-detail/51/amanda-pritchard/?from_listing=89|archive-date=14 May 2020|work=NHS Improvement|title=Amanda Pritchard}}{{cite news|url=https://www.hospitaltimes.co.uk/amanda-pritchard-appointed-nhs-coo-and-chief-executive-of-nhs-improvement/|work=Hospital Times|title=Amanda Pritchard appointed NHS' COO and Chief Executive of NHS Improvement|date=7 June 2019|access-date=2 November 2022}}{{cite press release|url=https://www.england.nhs.uk/2019/06/amanda-pritchard-appointed-nhs-chief-operating-officer-and-chief-executive-of-nhs-improvement/|publisher=NHS England|title=Amanda Pritchard appointed NHS' Chief Operating Officer and Chief Executive of NHS Improvement|date=5 June 2019|access-date=2 November 2022}} She was chief executive of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust from January 2016 to July 2019, having been acting chief executive from October 2015 to January 2016.{{cite web|url=https://www.hfma.org.uk/our-networks/faculties/provider-finance-faculty/speakers/amanda-pritchard|work=Healthcare Financial Management Association|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230806160753/https://www.hfma.org.uk/our-networks/faculties/provider-finance-faculty/speakers/amanda-pritchard|archive-date=6 August 2023|title=Speakers {{!}} Amanda Pritchard|access-date=2 November 2022}}
Early and personal life
Pritchard was born in May 1976 in Somerset,{{cite web|url=https://www.esu.org/news-and-views/celebrating-60-years-of-the-schools-mace/|work=English-Speaking Union|title=CELEBRATING 60 YEARS OF THE SCHOOLS’ MACE|date=15 May 2017|access-date=2 November 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Sylvester |first1=Rachel |last2=Lay |first2=Kat |date=13 January 2023 |url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/we-can-have-13-000-in-hospital-who-dont-need-to-be-there-they-are-fit-amanda-pritchard-interview-mmmbkdbf8 |title=‘We’ve had 13,000 in hospital who didn’t need to be there — they were fit’: Amanda Pritchard interview |newspaper=The Times |access-date=4 February 2024 |location=London |url-access=subscription}} the daughter of John Pritchard, later a Church of England bishop.{{cite news|url=https://www.chroniclelive.co.uk/news/north-east-news/new-nhs-boss-ex-durham-21170266|work=Chronicle Live|title=New NHS boss is ex Durham schoolgirl and former Bishop of Jarrow's daughter|first=Katie|last=Dickinson|date=28 July 2021|access-date=2 November 2022}} She grew up in County Durham, attending Durham Johnston Comprehensive School. She graduated from St Anne's College at the University of Oxford with a degree in modern history. Whilst a student, she was the librarian of The Oxford Union.{{cite press release|url=https://www.oxfordshireccg.nhs.uk/news/amanda-pritchard-appointed-nhs-chief-executive/456408|work=Oxfordshire CCG|title=Amanda Pritchard appointed NHS Chief Executive|date=30 July 2021|access-date=2 November 2022}}
Pritchard is married{{citation needed|date=February 2025|reason=To whom?}} with three children.
Career
Pritchard joined the NHS Management Training Schemehttps://graduates.nhs.uk/ in 1997 and has worked for the NHS for her entire career.
In 2002, she became a manager at Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust.{{cite web|url=https://www.hfma.org.uk/education-events/speakers/amanda-pritchard|work=Healthcare Financial Management Association|title=Amanda Pritchard {{!}} Chief Operating Officer, NHS England and NHS Improvement|access-date=2 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/17675570|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210730165439/https://www.bloomberg.com/profile/person/17675570|archive-date=30 July 2021|work=Bloomberg News|title=Amanda Pritchard {{!}} Chief Operating Officer, Guys & St Thomas NHS Foundation Trust}}{{Cite web|title=Trust Board Minutes December 2005|url=https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/about-us/organisation/links/2005/Trust-Board-Minutes-Dec-2005.pdf|url-status=live|website=Chelsea and Westminster Healthcare NHS Trust|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110926163902/http://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/about-us/organisation/links/2005/Trust-Board-Minutes-Dec-2005.pdf |archive-date=26 September 2011 }} From 2005 to 2006, Pritchard was the health team leader of the Prime Minister's Delivery Unit under Tony Blair,{{cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/e484c197-df58-4ace-bc85-bea2329bd079|work=Financial Times|title=Amanda Pritchard named new head of NHS England|first=Sarah|last=Neville|date=28 July 2021|access-date=2 November 2022|url-access=subscription}} before returning to Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust in 2006 as deputy chief executive, aged 29.{{cite press release|url=https://www.chelwest.nhs.uk/about-us/news/news-archive/2012/chief-executive-set-for-new-challenge|work=Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust|title=Chief Executive set for new challenge|date=3 January 2012|access-date=2 November 2022}} Six years later she moved to Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust as chief operating officer and was appointed as its first-ever female chief executive in 2015.
On 5 June 2019, Pritchard moved to NHS England and NHS Improvement as COO of NHS England and CEO of NHS Improvement. Effectively the deputy CEO of the NHS,{{cite news|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/daily-insight/daily-insight-making-the-cut/7030420.article|work=Health Service Journal|title=Daily Insight: Making the cut|date=6 July 2021|access-date=2 November 2022}} she led it operationally through COVID-19, the vaccine rollout, and its recovery, including service transformation, digitisation, and patient care improvements.{{cite web|url=https://www.nationalhealthexecutive.com/articles/amanda-pritchard-nhs-chief-executive|work=National Health Executive|title=Amanda Pritchard due to be confirmed as NHS chief executive|first=Jasmine|last=Jackson|date=28 July 2021|access-date=2 November 2022}}
Long seen as the frontrunner to replace Simon Stevens as CEO of the NHS,{{cite news|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2021/07/10/sajid-javid-tax-rise-could-practical-obvious-solution-social/|work=The Daily Telegraph|title=Sajid Javid: tax rise could be 'practical and obvious' solution to social care crisis|first=Edward|last=Malnick|date=10 July 2021|access-date=2 November 2022|issn=0307-1235|url-access=subscription}} it was announced on 28 July 2021 that Pritchard would be appointed as the next chief executive of NHS England; she took up the post on 1 August 2021 as the first woman in the role.{{cite press release|url=https://www.england.nhs.uk/2021/07/amanda-pritchard-appointed-nhs-chief-executive/|work=NHS England|title=Amanda Pritchard appointed NHS Chief Executive|date=28 July 2021|access-date=2 November 2022}} On 3 August 2021{{cite news|url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/workforce/nhse-names-interim-chief-operating-officer/7030640.article|work=Health Service Journal|title=NHSE names interim chief operating officer|first=Dave|last=West|date=4 August 2021|access-date=2 November 2022}}{{cite web|url=https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/nhs-executive-group/|work=NHS England|title=About us {{!}} NHS executive group|access-date=2 November 2022}} she was replaced as CEO of NHS Improvement by Stephen Powis on an interim basis.{{cite web|url=https://www.england.nhs.uk/about/board/nhs-improvement-board/board-members/|work=NHS England|title=Board members|access-date=2 November 2022}}
On 14 December 2021 she joined Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Health Secretary Sajid Javid in calling for volunteers to come forward to help with the COVID vaccine booster campaign.{{cite press release|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/prime-ministeer-and-head-of-the-nhs-call-for-volunteers-to-support-national-booster-effort|website=gov.uk|title=Prime Minister and Head of the NHS call for volunteers to support National Booster Effort|date=14 December 2021|access-date=2 November 2022}}
On 25 September 2023 Pritchard was appointed to the National Theatre Board.{{Cite web |date=2023-09-25 |title=Amanda Pritchard appointed to the National Theatre Board |url=https://www.nationaltheatre.org.uk/news/amanda-pritchard-joins-our-board/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=www.nationaltheatre.org.uk |language=en-GB}}
The Labour Government elected in July 2024 declared it had "full confidence" in Pritchard as head of the NHS.{{Cite web |last1=Illman |first1=James |last2=McLellan |date=1 July 2024 |first2=Alastair |title=Exclusive: Streeting has ‘total confidence’ in Amanda Pritchard |url=https://www.hsj.co.uk/policy-and-regulation/exclusive-streeting-has-total-confidence-in-amanda-pritchard/7037402.article |access-date=2024-07-17 |website=Health Service Journal |language=en}} She has spoken about the need to address the NHS's 'productivity challenges' and emergency winter pressures.{{Cite web |date=8 December 2024 |title=NHS Boss Amanda Pritchard: There Will Be “Unprecedented Demand” This Winter |author= Crowther, Zoe|url=https://www.politicshome.com/news/article/nhs-boss-amanda-pritchard-unprecedented-demand-this-winter |access-date=28 February 2025 |website=Politics Home |language=en}}
On 25 February 2025 Pritchard announced her resignation as CEO of NHS England following meetings with Health Secretary Wes Streeting and criticism from several committees of the House of Commons.{{cite news |work=BBC News |title=NHS England boss Amanda Pritchard stepping down |date=25 February 2025 |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cewk5xlxwkro |access-date=25 February 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250225135034/https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cewk5xlxwkro |first1=Hugh |last1=Pym |first2=Michelle |last2=Roberts |name-list-style=and |archive-date=25 February 2025 |url-status=live}}
References
{{reflist}}{{COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, Crown Dependencies and British Overseas Territories}}{{NHS England}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pritchard, Amanda}}
Category:Alumni of St Anne's College, Oxford
Category:British women chief executives