The Chief Executive of the Royal Society for Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA) Matthew Taylor has been appointed as the new Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation.
Mr Taylor will join the NHS Confederation in the summer after 15 years leading the RSA. During that time, he has transformed the RSA into a global institution, with 30,000 fellows and a high-profile and influential research programme.
He will take over from Danny Mortimer, who has been the acting chief executive of the NHS Confederation since September 2020. Mr Mortimer will return to his role as Deputy Chief Executive of the NHS Confederation and chief executive of NHS Employers (which is part of the Confederation).
Matthew has enjoyed a distinguished career at the heart of public policy, including his role as the Chief Adviser on Political Strategy to then Prime Minister Tony Blair, and a four-year tenure leading the Institute for Public Policy Research in the West Midlands.
He is widely-known as a commentator on policy, politics and public service reform, and has regularly appeared on national media programmes, such as a panellist on BBC Radio 4’s Moral Maze.
He was also commissioned by the Conservative Government in 2016 to carry out an independent review into modern employment practices.
Lord Victor Adebowale, Chair of the NHS Confederation, said: “I am delighted to announce that Matthew Taylor will become the new chief executive of the NHS Confederation. He is an exceptional appointment and is joining at a time of renewal for the UK NHS and for the Confederation.
“He brings a remarkable depth of experience at the heart of government and public policy and is a compelling advocate for our members as they face the challenges of recovering from the pandemic and delivering better health for all the communities they serve.”
Matthew will join the NHS Confederation as the organisation launches a new strategy to coincide with the most important set of reforms to the NHS in a decade, which will see legislative changes that underpin moves to integrate care in the NHS in England.
In the last year, the Confederation has launched networks for integrated care systems and primary care networks, which complement the support the organisation already provides to acute, community, mental health and ambulance service trusts, as well as to commissioners.
Matthew Taylor said: “The NHS is the most revered institution this country has created and is admired around the world. It represents the best of us and will play a vital role as we start the recovery process from coronavirus.
“I am proud to be joining the NHS Confederation at this pivotal time, as we look to build on the innovation and new ways of working that have been a feature of the pandemic and lock them in to improve care for the public.”
