Practicing clinicians from across England are to work part-time at the NHS Commissioning Board to give expert advice on distinct areas of NHS care.

Medical Director Professor Sir Bruce Keogh today (Wednesday) announced the names of 21 National Clinical Directors (NCDs) appointed to provide expert advice and research to the national medical directorate on conditions and services ranging from obesity and diabetes to emergency preparedness and critical care.

Prof Sir Bruce revealed the names as part of his address to open the inaugural Medical Leaders’ Conference, which will be held at the NHS Innovation Expo 2013 (Wednesday 13 March and Thursday 14 March, Excel Centre, London). The conference will focus on how the restructured NHS, driven by a new clinically-led commissioning system and a new network of clinical leaders, can improve quality outcomes for patients and transform the NHS.

Commenting on the appointments, he said: “The restructured NHS has clinical leadership at its heart, and will make its decisions based on the very best possible clinical evidence and expert advice. Our national clinical directors will provide the expert insight, knowledge and research we need in order to understand and address the challenges we face in all different aspects of NHS care.

“We have appointed high-calibre clinicians to all these posts, and they will play a key role in the development of clinically-led, patient-focussed care across all areas of the NHS.”

The national clinical directors will continue to work in their current roles, and remain based in their current areas. There will be a total of 25 NCD posts altogether: recruitment to the remaining four is ongoing.