NHS Improvement appoints new national patient safety director

NHS Improvement, which oversees foundation trusts and NHS trusts, has recruited Celia Ingham Clark as its new national patient safety director, replacing Mike Durkin.

Clark’s position is interim for six months until a permanent replacement is found; she will also continue in her current role as medical director for clinical effectiveness at NHS England.

The national patient safety team, responsible for assisting NHS providers prevent avoidable harm, manages the national learning and reporting safety system, which NHS providers use to report safety incidents. Multiple reported cases are used to identify emerging patterns and promote learning.

Kathy McLean, executive medical director at NHS Improvement, said: “Celia brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new role — including significant experience at a trust and with programmes to reduce premature mortality and sepsis. I’m sure Celia’s appointment will strengthen our efforts to help trusts improve patient safety and build on the work we are doing to embed an open and learning culture across the NHS.”

Previously, Clark served as NHS England’s director for reducing premature mortality and medical director at Whittington Hospital for eight years.