NHS chief to resign in March 2014

Sir David Nicholson will step down from his post in wake of Mid Staffs scandal.

07:03 23 May 2013

Following MPs and campaigners’ calls for his resignation in the wake of the Stafford hospital scandal, Sir David Nicholson has announced his plan to resign next year from his position as chief executive of NHS England.

Sir David, whose career in NHS spans 35 years, was in charged of the local health authority in 2005-2006; a time when hundreds of patients died due to neglect and abuse. The result of the investigation, which was published in February, found that the system “betrayed” the public by putting corporate self-interest ahead of patients.

 

Sir David’s resignation letter reads: “Recent events continue to show that on occasion the NHS can still sometimes fail patients, their families and carers. This continues to be a matter of profound regret to me.”

 

He added: “I have only ever had one ambition and that is to improve the quality of care for patients. I still passionately believe in what NHS England intends to do.

“My hope is that by being clear about my intentions now will give the organisation the opportunity to attract candidates of the very highest calibre so they can appoint someone who will be able to see this essential work through to its completion."