Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has announced Dr Penelope Dash will be the new Chair of NHS England, beginning 1 April 2025.
Dr Dash is currently the Chair of the NHS North West London Integrated Care Board and is leading a major review into the regulation of health and social care quality in England.
Responding to the announcement, Dr Lade Smith CBE, President of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said:
“On behalf of the College, I would like to extend sincere congratulations to Dr Penelope Dash on her appointment as Chair of NHS England. Dr Dash brings to the role an impressive record of championing patient safety which will be an asset in delivering the 10 Year Health Plan for the NHS.
“The challenges facing NHS mental health services are well known; community provision isn’t meeting the needs of patients, adult acute bed occupancy has not fallen below 95% since May 2022, and patients are facing unacceptable waits. This is hurting individuals and the economy.
“Psychiatry was the first medical specialism to move to a primarily community-based model of care, and one of the first to digitally modernise care. I look forward to supporting the new NHS England Chair as the NHS is transformed to a community model, with prevention at its heart, which better meets the mental health needs of the population.”
For further information, please contact:
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