The NHS Confederation has confirmed that Stephen Dorrell has been appointed as its new Chair. In a parliamentary career spanning 36 years, the former Secretary of State for Health and the first elected chair of the Health Select Committee brings a wealth of experience and insight to the role in these challenging times.
Stephen will be working alongside Chief Executive, Rob Webster, to provide leadership to the whole of the NHS Confederation group. He will work with the board of trustees to ensure the NHS Confederation continues to be a system leader and a representative voice of its members, while giving direct support for NHS leaders delivering the best possible care to patients.
Speaking on the new appointment NHS Confederation chief executive Rob Webster said:
“I am delighted to have someone of Stephen’s calibre support the NHS Confederation as chair. His appointment comes at a critical time for the NHS. His skills and experience in working across the political spectrum will help to further strengthen our role as the only organisation bringing together and speaking on behalf of the whole health and care system.
"Stephen is picking up an organisation that is in good shape and I would like to thank Michael O’Higgins for all of his support in the last three years”
Stephen Dorrell said:
“I have always enjoyed working with the NHS Confederation. It is a privilege to be chosen as the Chair of a trusted, credible and authoritative organisation. I look forward to working with key players in the system and all of our members as we embark on a journey to transform patient care.”
Biography
Stephen Dorrell was a Member of Parliament from 1979 to 2015 and a member of the Government from 1987 to 1997, serving as a minister in the Treasury, the Department of Health and the Department of National Heritage. He was a member of the Cabinet as Secretary of State for the National Heritage from 1994 to 1995 and Secretary of State for Health from 1995 to 1997.
Stephen led Conservative Mainstream from 2001 to 2005; from 2005 to 2010 he was Chair of the Conservative Public Service Improvement Group and from 2008 to 2010 he was a member of the cross party Commission on Public Service Reform convened by the Royal Society of Arts.
Between 2010 and 2014 Stephen was the first elected Chair of the House of Commons Health Committee, developing the role of the Committee as an authoritative cross-party voice on health and care policy.
In addition to his political life, Stephen has had an active business life both as a company director and as a consultant working with many of the major private equity houses. He is a Senior Adviser to KPMG supporting the Global Health and Public Sector practices.
Born in 1952, he was educated at Uppingham School, and Brasenose College Oxford.
