NHS confirms departure of Jim Easton to Care UK

Jim Easton, a key figure in the UK's NHS, has been confirmed as managing director of private healthcare provider Care UK.

It had previously been rumoured that Easton, national director of transformation at the NHS Commissioning Board and national director for improvement and efficiency at the Department of Health, would leave his public role to join the commercial health sector, but it is only now both parties have verified the move.

Easton has spent 26 years working in healthcare, including roles as chief executive of South Central Strategic Health Authority and chief executive of York Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust.

His departure has been seen by some as demonstrating a lack of confidence in the NHS' ability to find £20bn of savings, with Easton one of the leading voices in championing the QIPP agenda, which aims to implement an ideology of quality, innovation, productivity and prevention to drive efficiency.

But commenting on his departure, Easton said the scheme still had a future.

“I am delighted to have played my part in successfully delivering the challenge to date and creating a platform for the progress to continue,” he said.

“In recent months I have also had the pleasure of being part of establishing and developing the new NHS Commissioning Board. This really has been a great opportunity to help shape the NHS of the future and transform the way we care for patients.

Care UK's chief executive Mike Parish said his company welcomed “one most respected leaders of the NHS and an international authority on quality and innovation.”

He continued: “Our aim is to support NHS commissioners with their challenge to provide high quality care whilst managing economic pressures, with the key being to ensure patients receive access to the right care in the right place when they need it.

“Jim's experience, in particular his focus on QIPP, will ensure that as a provider we are always strongly focused on providing such smart and integrated services.”