Commonwealth Fund Board Member Simon Stevens to Head NHS
<p>Simon Stevens, a member of The Commonwealth Fund's Board of Directors, has been named head of the U.K's National Health Service (NHS), effective April 2014. </p><p>Stevens, the UnitedHealth Group's president for global health, earlier led the reform of the NHS as health advisor to British Prime Minister Tony Blair. Stevens has had a varied career as an executive for major hospital systems as well as primary care and payer organizations in the United States and internationally. Stevens first came to the U.S. as a 1994–95 Commonwealth Fund Harkness Fellow, based in New York City at Columbia University's School of Public Health. </p>
<p>Stevens' appointment comes at a time when the NHS is facing severe spending pressures. "The next five years are going to be extremely challenging for the NHS, but compassionate high quality care for all is as vital as ever," Stevens said in a statement released by the NHS. </p>
<p>"Simon Stevens brings his extraordinary knowledge and experience to the NHS at a critical time," said David Blumenthal, M.D., president of The Commonwealth Fund. "We are grateful for the contributions he has made to the success of The Commonwealth Fund, and we're delighted to see him assume this important role." </p>