New Chief People Officer appointed to ‘help build the NHS workforce of the future’.
NHS Improvement and NHS England have appointed Prerana Issar to the role of Chief People Officer.
The new position is part of the NHS Executive Group and will play a leading role in ensuring that NHS in England has enough people, with the right skills and experience to deliver the NHS Long Term Plan.
Prerana joins the NHS from the United Nations, where she was the Chief Human Resources Officer and Director for Public-Private Partnerships.
She will start her NHS role at the beginning of April and will initially be commuting from Rome.
Commenting on her appointment, Prerana said: “I’m looking forward to working closely with colleagues, staff groups and trades unions to help develop a coherent and forward-thinking approach across the NHS, as well as with local leaders to help secure the workforce they require to meet the specific needs of local people, now and into the future.”
Ian Dalton, Chief executive of NHS Improvement, said: “I am delighted that we have put our staff centre stage in our new structure with the creation of a Chief People Officer and to have secured a world-class leader who will bring her skills and experience into the NHS. Prerana has a track record of delivering real change in complex settings and I have already been struck by the passion she shows for tackling the NHS’s workforce challenges.”
Simon Stevens, NHS England Chief Executive, said: “There is now wide recognition that support for our workforce is now one of the top issues facing the NHS – promoting flexibility, wellbeing and career development, and redoubling our efforts to address discrimination, violence, bullying and harassment. Prerana will bring truly global experience and demonstrable passion to this important new role.”