London Daily

Focus on the big picture.
Friday, Jun 20, 2025

NHS England boss Stevens to step down this summer

NHS England boss Stevens to step down this summer

Sir Simon Stevens is to step down as head of NHS England and become a peer, the government has announced.

After seven years in the job, he will leave his role at the end of July after having overseen the Covid vaccination rollout to all adults.

Sir Simon had intended to leave sooner but agreed to stay on through last winter.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said he had "led the NHS with great distinction".

"I want to thank him for his dedicated service throughout - but especially when facing the extraordinary pressures of the past year, and for his huge contribution to our vaccine rollout," Mr Johnson said.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said Sir Simon had been "a steadfast and sage leader for our National Health Service, and that has been especially true during this most testing period in NHS history".

He added: "His leadership has helped NHS staff to overcome unprecedented adversity and keep services open for millions of patients in the face of this global pandemic."

In December, on the first day of the NHS's largest vaccination campaign in the fight against Covid-19, Sir Simon told the BBC it would mark "a decisive turning point" in the UK epidemic.

In January, on the anniversary of the UK's first Covid cases, he thanked all NHS workers who had cared for more than 300,000 seriously ill coronavirus patients.

Since Covid vaccines started to be offered, more than 28 million people have been vaccinated with a first dose in England - two-thirds of the total population of adults over 18.


Sir Simon Stevens arrived at NHS England in 2014 after heading up an American private health corporation - and there was suspicion in some quarters about his long term agenda.

But Sir Simon had begun his career as an NHS graduate and then worked as an adviser to Labour health secretaries and then Tony Blair. He knew the politics of the NHS inside out.

His understanding of the workings of Whitehall were useful in negotiating long-term NHS financial settlements with successive chancellors. He called for more joined-up working between councils running social care and their local NHS counterparts, which has resulted in the creation of so-called integrated care systems in England.

Much of the credit for the rollout of the vaccination programme in England must go to Sir Simon and NHS colleagues - his departure at the end of the July, as it happens, is the time by which the government has said all adults in the UK will have been offered a first dose.

NHS staff have also administered more than 10 million second doses, which give people maximum protection against becoming ill with Covid.

Across the four nations of the UK, more than half the adult population - 34 million people - have received a first dose.

Sir Simon first joined the NHS in 1988 through its graduate management programme before working in international health care, frontline NHS services and at 10 Downing Street, before becoming chief executive of NHS England in 2014.

He was knighted in 2020 for services to health and the NHS, and will now join the House of Lords.

NHS England said a successor would be appointed before Sir Simon steps down on 31 July.


Jonathan Van-Tam vaccinates Health Secretary Matt Hancock


Newsletter

Related Articles

0:00
0:00
Close
16 Billion Login Credentials Leaked in Unprecedented Cybersecurity Breach
Senate hearing on who was 'really running' Biden White House kicks off
Iranian Military Officers Reportedly Seek Contact with Reza Pahlavi, Signal Intent to Defect
FBI and Senate Investigate Allegations of Chinese Plot to Influence the 2020 Election in Biden’s Favor Using Fake U.S. Driver’s Licenses
Vietnam Emerges as Luxury Yacht Destination for Ultra‑Rich
Plans to Sell Dutch Embassy in Bangkok Face Local Opposition
China's Iranian Oil Imports Face Disruption Amid Escalating Middle East Tensions
Trump's $5 Million 'Trump Card' Visa Program Draws Nearly 70,000 Applicants
DGCA Finds No Major Safety Concerns in Air India's Boeing 787 Fleet
Airlines Reroute Flights Amid Expanding Middle East Conflict Zones
Elon Musk's xAI Seeks $9.3 Billion in Funding Amid AI Expansion
Trump Demands Iran's Unconditional Surrender Amid Escalating Conflict
Israeli Airstrike Targets Iranian State TV in Central Tehran
President Trump is leaving the G7 summit early and has ordered the National Security Council to the Situation Room
Taiwan Imposes Export Ban on Chips to Huawei and SMIC
Israel has just announced plans to strike Tehran again, and in response, Trump has urged people to evacuate
Netanyahu Signals Potential Regime Change in Iran
Juncker Criticizes EU Inaction on Trump Tariffs
EU Proposes Ban on New Russian Gas Contracts
Analysts Warn Iran May Resort to Unconventional Warfare
Iranian Regime Faces Existential Threat Amid Conflict
Energy Infrastructure Becomes War Zone in Middle East
UK Home Secretary Apologizes Over Child Grooming Failures
Trump Organization Launches 5G Mobile Network and Golden Handset
Towcester Hosts 2025 English Greyhound Derby Amid Industry Scrutiny
Gary Oldman and David Beckham Knighted in King's Birthday Honours
Over 30,000 Lightning Strikes Recorded Across UK During Overnight Storms
Princess of Wales Returns to Public Duties at Trooping the Colour
Red Arrows Use Sustainable Fuel in Historic Trooping the Colour Flypast
Former Welsh First Minister Addresses Unionist Concerns Over Irish Language
Iran Signals Openness to Nuclear Negotiations Amid Ongoing Regional Tensions
France Bars Israeli Arms Companies from Paris Defense Expo
King Charles Leads Tribute to Air India Crash Victims at Trooping the Colour
Jack Pitchford Embarks on 200-Mile Walk to Support Stem Cell Charity
Surrey Hikers Take on Challenge of Climbing 11 Peaks in a Single Day
UK Deploys RAF Jets to Middle East Amid Israel-Iran Tensions
Two Skydivers Die in 'Tragic Accident' at Devon Airfield
Sainsbury's and Morrisons Accused of Displaying Prohibited Tobacco Ads
UK Launches National Inquiry into Grooming Gangs
Families Seek Closure After Air India Crash
Gold Emerges as Global Safe Haven Amid Uncertainty
Trump Reports $57 Million Earnings from Crypto Venture
Trump's Military Parade Sparks Concerns Over Authoritarianism
Nationwide 'No Kings' Protests Challenge Trump's Leadership
UK Deploys Jets to Middle East Amid Rising Tensions
Trump's Anti-War Stance Tested Amid Israel-Iran Conflict
Germany Holds First Veterans Celebration Since WWII
U.S. Health Secretary Dismisses CDC Vaccine Advisory Committee
Minnesota Lawmaker Melissa Hortman and Husband Killed in Targeted Attack; Senator John Hoffman and Wife Injured
Exiled Iranian Prince Reza Pahlavi Urges Overthrow of Khamenei Regime
×