Former nurse and interim boss at 10 Downing Street Samantha Jones has been confirmed as the next permanent secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care.
Jones, who is currently a non-executive director at DHSC as well as serving as chief operating officer at renewable-energy company Xlinks, was tipped for the department’s top job earlier this month. But her appointment has only been confirmed this afternoon.
After working as a general and paediatric nurse, Jones became a hospital chief executive, then moved to NHS England to lead the New Models of Care programme.
She served as an expert adviser on NHS transformation and social care to then-PM Boris Johnson in 2021, before being hired as interim permanent secretary and COO at Downing Street in 2022.
Her appointment to that role was part of Johnson’s response to the publication of Sue Gray’s initial findings on the Partygate Scandal, which suggested No.10 suffered from a “fragmented and complicated” leadership structure. Jones stayed in the role for just a matter of months.
Jones will replace Sir Chris Wormald, who left DHSC in December last year to become cabinet secretary. Chief scientific adviser for England Prof Sir Chris Whitty has been acting perm sec at the department since Wormald’s departure. DHSC did not specify a date when Jones will start work as perm sec.
Health secretary Wes Streeting said Jones would bring a wealth of experience from the front line of healthcare to her work at the department.
He added: “Equally, her work in senior management roles across both Whitehall and the health and social care sector will prove invaluable as we reintegrate NHS England back into the department to cut red tape, reduce duplication and make it fit for the future as part of our Plan for Change.”
Cab sec Wormald said he had worked closely with Jones at DHSC and described her as “an outstanding public servant” who had spent much of her career working to improve and enrich the lives of people across the country.
“This is a critical time for DHSC, as they look to welcome their NHS England colleagues back into the department, and work to deliver the government missions and Plan for Change," he said.
“Samantha is uniquely positioned to drive forward this work, and I look forward to working with her.”
Last month, prime minister Keir Starmer announded that NHS England would be merged back into DHSC as part of a bid to reduce bureaucratic duplication of roles, reversing coalition government-era health reforms.
Jones said it was “an absolute privilege” to be appointed perm sec at DHSC.
“Having worked alongside the brilliant team at DHSC over the past few years, serving on their board, I look forward to leading a department of committed public servants to improve the health of our nation," she said.
Before becoming Johnson’s adviser on NHS reform, Jones spent three years as chief executive of Operose Health – a US-owned group that runs GP and other primary care surgeries and mental health services in this country.