New National Clinical Directors

Seven National Clinical Directors (NCDs) have been recruited by NHS England on three-year tenures or part-time secondments. The new appointments include Dr Lesley Kay – National Clinical Director for Musculoskeletal (replacing Andy Bennett), Dr Thomas Downes – National Clinical Director for Older People and Integrated Personalised Care and Dr Jeremy Isaacs – National Clinical Director for Dementia.

Dr Lesley Kay has been the GIRFT Clinical Lead for Rheumatology. Dr Kay is a Consultant rheumatologist at the Newcastle upon Tyne Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and former Chair of the British Society for Rheumatology Clinical Affairs Committee. Andy Bennett will be taking on a new role with GIRFT supporting primary and community musculoskeletal services.

Dr Sue Mann, a consultant and lead for women’s health in City and Hackney, North East London, has been appointed as the first ever National Clinical Director for Women’s Health to help implement the Women’s Health Strategy alongside supporting the roll out of women’s health hubs across England. Dr Mann will also work on the development of a network of Women’s Health Champions, made up of senior leaders in every local care system to drive forward work to improve women’s health.

Professor Ramani Moonesinghe – National Clinical Director for Critical and Perioperative Care, and Professor Matt Inada-Kim – National Clinical Director for Infection and Antimicrobial Resistance, and Dr Tony Avery – National Clinical Director for Prescribing, have all been re-appointed to their NCD roles for another term.

All the NCDS and will carry out their national role alongside their clinical duties.