Responding to the news that Dr Penny Dash is the preferred candidate to be the new chair of NHS England, Lord Victor Adebowale, chair of the NHS Confederation, said:

“On behalf of our members, I would like to offer my congratulations to Dr Penny Dash on the news that she is the government's preferred candidate for the new chair of NHS England.

“Penny’s experience across public health, medicine, healthcare management and as chair of an integrated care board that serves a diverse population of over two million people, would make her an exceptional appointment to steer the NHS through its many challenges and to rebuild the health service.

“It would be incredibly exciting to see one of our most dynamic and ambitious ICB chairs take on this role and to support the NHS to further embrace the potential of system-working. This would serve NHS England well as it embarks on its restructuring while continuing to develop the Ten Year Health Plan."