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NHS England Chief Under Fire Over Leadership and Women's Health Concerns

Amanda Pritchard, the Chief Executive of NHS England, is facing mounting criticism after two powerful groups of MPs expressed serious concerns about her leadership and ability to drive NHS reform.


MPs ‘Exasperated’ by NHS Leadership Responses


The Commons health and social care committee issued an unusual public statement following Pritchard’s appearance before them on Wednesday, describing their frustration with her vague and rambling responses.

“We had hoped for a sharpness in witnesses’ responses but were exasperated by the lengthy and diffuse answers,” said Layla Moran, the committee’s chair.

The statement came just hours after the public accounts committee (PAC) released a scathing report, questioning whether NHS England had the fresh ideas and leadership needed to transform the struggling health service. The PAC accused both NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) of being “complacent” about the scale of change needed.


Speculation Over Pritchard’s Future


Speculation is growing that Pritchard’s tenure may be coming to an end, with reports that relations between NHS England and the government have become “toxic” since the October budget. Despite the NHS receiving a £22bn funding boost, health leaders have warned it is still not enough to deliver the reforms promised by Health Secretary Wes Streeting.


A senior NHS source suggested that Pritchard’s leadership has become a point of tension, although the government insists that Streeting still has “full confidence” in her.


Women’s Healthcare at Risk?


During her committee appearance, Pritchard sparked controversy by admitting that the NHS “doesn’t always have the needs of women at its heart”.


Her comments come as concerns grow that dedicated NHS women’s health hubs—which provide essential care for conditions such as menopause, endometriosis, and pregnancy loss—could lose guaranteed funding under the government’s latest NHS priorities.


The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) has written to Streeting, warning that scrapping funding for these hubs would be “self-defeating” and would worsen women’s health outcomes.

“This will result in a deterioration in women’s health,” wrote Dr Ranee Thakar, RCOG’s president.

Concerns Over Scrapping Key NHS Targets


In addition to women’s health, NHS England is also facing criticism over reports that it may scrap a target ensuring 75% of people with learning disabilities receive an annual health check.


Jon Sparkes, CEO of Mencap, warned that removing this goal could have “deadly consequences”, given that people with learning disabilities already die up to 23 years earlier than the general population.

“Even when resources are tight, addressing waiting times and ensuring people with a learning disability are receiving adequate healthcare should never be pitted against each other,” he said.

What Happens Next?


NHS England is set to publish its official planning guidance on Thursday, outlining its priorities for 2025-26. Pritchard has defended her lack of detailed responses in the committee hearing, claiming that the upcoming document prevented her from sharing more information.


However, with growing MP frustration, internal NHS tensions, and concerns over cuts to key healthcare services, pressure is mounting on Pritchard and NHS England to deliver real and effective reform.

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