Dr Aidan Fowler is to join NHS Improvement as NHS National Director of Patient Safety in July 2018. Reflecting the system-wide nature of the role, Dr Fowler will also be appointed as a Deputy Chief Medical Officer by the Chief Medical Officer and Department of Health and Social Care.

Dr Fowler brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in patient safety and is currently Director of NHS Quality Improvement and Patient Safety, and Director of the 1000 Lives Improvement Service at Public Health Wales.

He is a consultant surgeon by background and prior to joining Public Health Wales in September 2015, held director level roles at Worcestershire Health and Care NHS Trust and University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust.

This cross system role will see Dr Fowler working closely with NHS England and the Chief Medical Officer.

NHS Improvement’s remit for patient safety extends across all areas of NHS-funded healthcare in England, so Dr Fowler’s welcome appointment to lead the national patient safety function is a key one for the organisation and the NHS as a whole.

NHS Improvement would also like to offer sincere thanks to Dr Celia Ingham Clark who has provided great leadership whilst covering the role of Interim NHS National Director of Patient Safety since June 2017.

Dr Kathy McLean, Medical Director at NHS Improvement