04 August 2006
Unions and professional associations in the NHS have welcomed the appointment of an NHS insider as the service's new chief executive.
The appointment of David Nicholson — the chief executive of the London Strategic Health Authority — has been greeted as an indication that traditional public sector skills and values are still important to the NHS at a time of increased private sector involvement.
British Medical Association chair James Johnson said: 'Nicholson's values and ethos are steeped in the NHS and this is good news for patients and doctors.'
The appointment was advertised internationally and it was rumoured that the Department of Health had hoped to attract a high-flyer from the private sector on a salary expected to exceed £270,000.
Instead, a panel led by the civil service commissioner Janet Paraskeva and Cabinet secretary Sir Gus O'Donnell appointed Nicholson, who has 25 years of experience in the NHS.
The NHS Confederation's chief executive, Dame Gill Morgan, said: '[The] appointment shows that NHS managers are among the best in the world when tested against a strong field from the international and private sector.'
Niall Dickson, chief executive of the King's Fund, agreed, adding that it 'was an open secret that the government was considering candidates from both the private sector and the US to take over from Sir Nigel Crisp'.
Crisp retired in March 2006, following controversy over the DoH's handling of plans to outsource primary care trust functions. Although he carried out the dual role of NHS chief executive and DoH permanent secretary, those roles will now be split.
The DoH and Cabinet Office declined to indicate when a new permanent secretary would be appointed.
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