NHS England and NHS Improvement have appointed Professor Em Wilkinson-Brice to the role of Deputy Chief People Officer.
The new position will play a leading role in supporting delivery of the NHS Long Term Plan by developing and implementing the NHS’ People Plan due to be published towards the end of the year. This will help the NHS become a better place to work for staff, improve leadership culture, and boost recruitment in key roles.
Professor Em Wilkinson-Brice joins from Royal Devon & Exeter NHS Foundation Trust where she was Deputy Chief Executive and Chief Nurse. In a 30-year career within the NHS she has worked as a nurse, developed a speciality in cardiology and high dependency care and worked at the Department of Health and Social Care. She has been in Exeter since 2010 as Chief Nurse, Chief Operating Officer and undertaking system work within the Devon STP.
“This is a really exciting time to be joining NHSE/I to work with Prerana to ensure that we have a workforce with the right values, behaviours and skills to deliver the best care possible for patients,” she says.
“The NHS is at its heart a people organisation - whether that is the people who need care or those delivering it - and I am delighted to be involved in a way that can help shape a new approach that makes the NHS a more inclusive and engaging place to work and that allows people to fulfil their potential to deliver compassionate care.”
Em will work part-time with NHS England and NHS Improvement during September, before taking up her new role on a full-time basis in October.
