Dido Harding applies to be NHS England chief

The Conservative peer, who led NHS Test and Trace through much of the covid pandemic and was previously NHS Improvement chair, earlier this week said she was “thinking of” applying.

An amendment to Baroness Harding’s biography on the NHS England and Improvement website today said:”Dido has applied to become the next CEO of the NHS and has therefore stood aside as chair of NHS Improvement whilst the recruitment process takes place. Sir Andrew Morris is standing in for her during this time.”

The deadline for applications was Monday.

Leading candidates for the role are thought to include NHSE chief operating officer Amanda Pritchard, hospital trust and former NHSI chief Sir Jim Mackey, and KPMG partner Mark Britnell.

Baroness Harding has been a controversial figure, particularly due to concerns about test and trace, for which government appointed her executive chair in May last year. She left in April.

In response to her saying she was thinking of applying, the Labour Party issued a statement saying: ”The NHS needs someone with a proven track record of improving services for patients”.

During her time as NHSI chair, Baroness Harding led high-profile engagement work on developing a “people plan”, including improving leadership and staff culture, and brought the organisation into its current joint working arrangement with NHSE, under Sir Simon as chief exec.

She was previously TalkTalk chief executive.

• Listen to our HSJ Health Check podcast with Jeremy Hunt discussing how the NHSE chief will be appointed.