London-based health policy and communications consultancy Incisive Health has appointed Richard Douglas as its senior counsel.
Douglas joins after spending almost 40 years in Whitehall, having worked in the Department of Health, HM Customs and Excise, the National Audit Office and National Savings.
He served most recently as the Department of Health’s director general for finance and the NHS, a post from which he retired in May last year.
Bill Morgan, one of Incisive Health’s three founding partners, said: “Richard Douglas is unique. There is no one with a better idea of how the NHS will face up to its financial challenge than Richard, and there is no one who better understands the interplay between politics, policy and the NHS than him.
“He is the best person to help our team chart the future of the NHS and advise our clients on how they can play their part in it.
“Most importantly, Richard is an inspiration to those who work with him. The entire team is delighted to have him as a colleague.”