The NHS leader who presided over controversial same-day hubs in North West London is set to take the helm of NHS England’s board.
Current chair of NWL ICB Dr Penny Dash has been named as the ‘preferred candidate’ for the next chair of NHS England, pending scrutiny by a group of MPs.
Last year, her ICB came under fire after Pulse revealed its plans to effectively mandate the use of same-day hubs by introducing them to the ‘single offer’ of enhanced services for GP practices.
Dr Dash – briefly an NHS doctor but with a long history in management consultancy and policy roles – also led the damning review of the CQC which found ‘significant failings’, including that there is a ‘lack of consistency’ and transparency in ratings of GP surgeries.
Before taking up her current leadership position at NWL ICB in 2021, Dr Dash was a senior partner at the management consultancy McKinsey for many years, and she had also been head of strategy for the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) in the early 2000s.
Pulse revealed last year that NWL ICB had paid almost £1m to management consultants to support with primary care strategies since 2019.
This included over £650,000 to KPMG in 2023/24 to come up with its same-day access hubs strategy, which has since been shelved due to backlash from GPs and patients.
Since scrapping the proposal last year, NWL ICB has asked GP practices to come up with plans to increase activity by 10% in order to access the funding originally intended for same-day hubs.
Last week, at an engagement event about these GP access plans, Dr Dash told NWL residents that it is a ‘crucial piece of work’ and that ‘ensuring access to primary care is a critical element’ of the ICB’s obligation to provide high quality care.
In October, Pulse revealed the ICB’s first-of-its kind plans to introduce ‘integrated neighbourhood teams’ inspired by the Fuller stocktake.
At an ICB board meeting, Dr Dash issued the paper, which asked all GP practices to now ‘put their plans in place’ for integrated neighbourhood teams.
If appointed to the NHSE chair role after a successful public appointment process, Dr Dash will take over from Richard Meddings.
A DHSC notice today said: ‘Penny Dash has been named as the government’s preferred candidate for the next chair of NHS England.
‘Wes Streeting, the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, has invited the Health and Social Care Committee to hold a pre-appointment scrutiny hearing with Penny Dash.’
It added: ‘Following the select committee hearing, the committee will set out its views on the candidate’s suitability for the role. The Secretary of State will then consider the committee’s report before making a final decision on the appointment.’
if this goes ahead it wont be long before NHSE instructs ICBs to establish same day hubs
Only McKinsey’s client base will benefit from this. Milburn, Dash, Kibasi, Stevens…read the revolving door.
An utter betrayal of the national health service with patients as bottom-feeders. Oh Labour, what have you done.
Could not be a worse appointment for England’s health. Disregards patients, staff and everything in between. What really was the point of the Labour government if this was the outcome. It’s like Musk in his White House – unelected, with a destructive purpose, a fake veneer & no thought about the minions they are meant to be serving. RIP NHS
I wonder what BLairabour and Dr Dosh will do when, in trade talks with their soon-to-be-master Trump, they’re told by the doge Musk to take a cleaver to the blob that’s the NHSE management class…
(btw, the report button needs to be moved, fat fingers accidentally tapped it)