NHSE chief operating officer quits

Chief operating officer Dame Emily Lawson and chief delivery officer Steve Russell are leaving their jobs at the end of this month, staff were told today, as they were informed of a further wave of job cuts to reduce by half the size of the staff at central NHSE and the health department.

It follows the resignation of chief finance officer Julian Kelly and CEO Amanda Pritchard in recent days, and medical director Sir Steve Powis will leave in the summer. It means five of nine board executives are leaving, while chair Richard Meddings has also been forced out.

Sir Jim is expected to name a “transition” exec team in coming days. It is unclear if he will keep the roles of COO and CDO. HSJ understands South West regional director Elizabeth O’Mahony is a likely candidate for CFO.

Dame Emily was hailed as a “vaccine hero” for her work leading the rollout of the covid-19 vaccination programme, and was also a key part of improving logistics in the early part of the pandemic. The former McKinsey partner was subsequently brought into Number 10 by Boris Johnson to head up the Downing Street delivery unit, and then moved back to NHSE to work on the booster programme.

Prior to the pandemic, she had worked as chief commercial officer and transformation director at NHSE, as well as holding a series of senior roles in the private sector.

Meanwhile, from early 2022, Mr Russell led NHSE’s work on vaccination and screening, before becoming chief delivery officer a year later. His work has included leading NHSE’s big staff restructure in the past two years, and development of new system operating and oversight systems.

He was previously chief executive of Harrogate and District Foundation Trust, after working in NHS London and as deputy CEO at Barking, Havering and Redbridge University Hospitals.

In a message to staff announcing the news as well as the departure of Mr Kelly, Ms Pritchard said: “Having spoken to each of them, I know they have not made their decisions lightly. They are supportive of closer working between NHS England and DHSC and feel it is the right time to move on and allow a new transition team, led by Jim, to reshape how NHSE and DHSC work together.

“They have played a crucial part in the NHS over the last few years and made an enormous contribution to patients – not only expertly guiding the NHS through the shock of and response to the pandemic but also navigating the incredibly challenging recovery period.

“There is no doubt the last few years have been the most difficult for the NHS and there is no way we could have turned a corner on recovery, improved NHS performance or made billions of pounds of efficiency savings without the hands-on experience, skill and dedication of Julian, Emily and Steve.

“I am hugely grateful for everything they have done for the NHS and for patients.”

The outgoing CEO added: “It is now the right time to work closer with DHSC, as we seek to minimise duplication and keep improving patient services.”

Incoming transition CEO Sir Jim has said he is planning a “fundamental reset” of the service’s finances amid warnings of a £7bn deficit.

Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting wants to bring NHSE back under closer control of the Department of Health and Social Care, with the potential for further job cuts.