Professor Sir Bruce Keogh has announced that he will be stepping down as NHS England’s National Medical Director at the end of the year after 10 years in the role.

He has been appointed as Chair of Birmingham Women’s and Children’s NHS Foundation Trust and will take up this important role when he leaves NHS England.

Sir Bruce said: “By the end of this year I will have served as national medical director for a decade. It has been and continues to be a huge privilege. But the time must come to make a change and I now have the opportunity to focus my attention on improving services for women and children in my home city. I am really looking forward to it.”

Simon Stevens, Chief Executive of NHS England said: “Bruce has given superb medical leadership to the NHS and has been a great source of wisdom and advice to us all”.