- Sir John Oldham has accepted a direct ministerial appointment to the Department of Health and Social Care as Strategic Adviser to the Secretary of State
- Sir John will work closely with Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, Wes Streeting, to transform the health and care system including primary care and develop a neighbourhood health service
Lord Darzi’s 2024 independent investigation of the NHS highlighted the urgent need to transform the health and care system and move to a neighbourhood health service that delivers co-ordinated care closer to home, to create healthier communities, spot problems earlier, and support people to stay healthier and maintain their independence for longer.
Sir John is a GP by background and a pioneer in introducing quality improvement methods into the NHS. He has an international reputation for designing and delivering large-scale change programmes in health as well as in schools and with members of deprived communities. He has been a member of the National Quality Board, chair of the Commission on Whole Person Care and non-executive board member for the Care Quality Commission, among other roles.
The appointment is a paid role, which began on 2 December 2024 and is for a 12-month period. It is not a Civil Service appointment.