Sir Simon Stevens has today formally notified the NHS England Board of his decision to stand down as planned at the end of July, after more than seven years as NHS chief executive.

Sir Simon took up post on 1 April 2014, having first joined the NHS in 1988 through its graduate management programme. In a varied career before becoming NHS England Chief Executive he worked in frontline NHS services and in international health care, in both the public and private sectors, and at 10 Downing Street and the Department of Health.

Having confidentially notified the NHS England Board last year of his intended departure this summer, they will now – as set out in legislation – lead the open competitive recruitment process for Sir Simon’s successor, and the post will be advertised shortly. The appointment of the Board’s chosen candidate is then subject to ratification by the Secretary of State for Health and Social Care. The aim is to have a successor appointed before Sir Simon steps down on 31 July, during which time he will continue to lead the NHS and oversee successful completion of NHS England’s covid vaccination rollout to all adults.

Sir Simon Stevens said: “Joining the health service in my early twenties was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made, followed three decades later by the privilege of leading the NHS through some of the toughest challenges in its history. The people of this country have rightly recognised the extraordinary service of NHS staff during this terrible pandemic, as well as the success of our covid vaccination deployment. As the pandemic recedes in this country, the NHS’s track record in advancing medical progress in a way that works for everyone rightly continues to inspire young people to join one of the greatest causes – health and high quality care for all, now and for future generations.”

Prime Minister, Boris Johnson, said: “Sir Simon has led the NHS with great distinction for the past seven years. I want to thank him for his dedicated service throughout – but especially when facing the extraordinary pressures of the past year, and for his huge contribution to our vaccine rollout.”

Chair of NHS England, Lord David Prior, said: “Simon has successfully led the NHS through its greatest ever challenges – the worst pandemic in a century, the greatest funding squeeze since the second world war, and unprecedented political volatility working alongside three prime ministers and four chancellors against the backdrop of three general elections and a referendum. He told me last year that he wanted to stand down this summer, and since then he has brilliantly guided the NHS through the horrendous winter wave of coronavirus, while simultaneously directing the world’s fastest and most successful large scale covid vaccination rollout. The NHS, and the country, owe him a huge debt of gratitude.”

Prof Lord Ara Darzi, NHS England board member, and professor of surgery and director of the Institute of Global Health Innovation at Imperial College London, said: “While Simon’s announcement has been widely expected, it’s hard to think of anyone who has had a more profound and positive impact on the NHS in its seven decades. As well as ensuring – against all the odds – that the NHS has successfully made it through both austerity and the covid pandemic with its reputation rightly enhanced, he has initiated and overseen the most important and comprehensive redesign of services since 1948. He has also been a huge supporter of innovation, and has given the green light to NHS investment in a wide range of practical clinical improvements ranging from modern cancer treatments to groundbreaking personalised gene therapies for rare diseases. I have had the privilege of working closely with Simon over the years – rarely do you see such clarity of thinking – he has served the NHS and public brilliantly and passionately.”

Dame Claire Gerada, GP and co-chair of the NHS Assembly, said: “The NHS has been through great turmoil, not just during the pandemic but in the lean years before. It is down to Simon’s brave and independent-minded leadership that we have got through these difficult times and that the NHS is in good shape.

“The fact that he has worked so tirelessly and stayed leading the NHS through its greatest test when he could have gone last summer is a testament to what a principled and honourable man he is.

“So no one will begrudge his decision to stand down now, but he’s going to be greatly missed and an incredibly hard act to follow. Simon has done an extraordinary job and this country owes him a huge debt of gratitude.”

Health and Social Care Secretary, Matt Hancock, said: “Throughout his tenure Sir Simon Stevens has been a steadfast and sage leader for our National Health Service, and that has been especially true during this most testing period in NHS history. His leadership has helped NHS staff to overcome unprecedented adversity and keep services open for millions of patients in the face of this global pandemic.

“The past seven years has seen Sir Simon make a formidable contribution to the running and transformation of health and care services in England, which will no doubt endure for years to come.

“I want to thank him personally for his service to the NHS in England, and I wish him all the best for the future including his new role in the House of Lords.”

Rt Hon Sir Keir Starmer MP, Leader of the Labour Party, said: “I want to thank Simon for his extraordinary service to our NHS. Simon has been a hugely effective advocate for the NHS, its patients and staff, and has led the service with great distinction through the greatest challenges it has faced since its foundation. The NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme under Simon’s leadership has shown the NHS at its best. I wish him well for the future.

NHS Confederation Chair, Lord Victor Adebowale, said: “Sir Simon Stevens has made an immense contribution to the NHS and the health of people living in England. When he told me he was leaving I responded that I’d seen him walk on Lake Windermere so many times.

“He is a singular figure who has made the case for investment in health and healthcare with determination and skill, and with a remarkable personal resilience. His personal commitment to addressing inequity in our workplaces and communities, which long predates the agenda of the last 12 months, has been striking but so has the breadth of his focus and impact across the NHS.

“The integration agenda and the NHS response to the pandemic will stand as a particular testament to his leadership. As the main architect of the NHS Long Term Plan, he has left a lasting legacy for the NHS as we move into a new era based on collaboration and partnership.

“The NHS Confederation both extends our thanks to him and also our best wishes for the future.”

Jonathan Ashworth MP, Shadow Secretary of State for Health, said: “Simon Stevens has been an outstanding leader for the NHS since 2014, championing both staff and patients alike. The challenges of the past year have shown that strong leadership at the top of the NHS is more vital than ever before. The success of the vaccination programme is a real testament to his ability to deliver and we owe him a huge debt for his service to the NHS both over the course of the pandemic and the past seven years.”

Michele Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK, said: “We hope Simon’s successor will show the same deep personal commitment to cancer patients and innovative care that has been a hallmark of his successful leadership of NHS England. As NHS chief executive Simon has rightly prioritised cancer services, and we have greatly valued our partnership working with him and NHS England to drive improved outcomes for people affected by cancer.”

Paul Farmer, chief executive of mental health charity MIND, said: “Simon has been a true champion for mental health. For the first time in the NHS, his powerful and sustained personal commitment has confronted unmet need head on, and each year mental health funding is now growing as a crucial part of the LTP.”

Former Prime Minister, Tony Blair, said: “Simon Stevens has done a fantastic job for the health service at NHS England. I am so proud that someone who worked with me in Downing Street went on to do that role and achieve so much.  He has always been a passionate believer in a publicly funded healthcare system, suitably reformed to take account of changing times. I wish him continued success in the future.”

Professor Sir Chris Ham, co-chair of the NHS Assembly, said: “Simon is an outstanding leader who has demonstrated his many capabilities in the response to the pandemic and also in the legacy he will leave in integrated care and population health. Under his stewardship, the NHS has moved decisively to develop services fit for the future that will serve patients and the public well in the years ahead. His strategic vision coupled with deep understanding of health and social care have made a real difference to all of us who rely on the NHS.’’

Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee and former health secretary, Rt Hon Jeremy Hunt MP, said: “This is sad news for the NHS. Simon has been the service’s staunchest advocate and defender, and a model of calm and effective leadership. We’ve been incredibly lucky to have someone of his calibre at the helm during the covid crisis. He will be greatly missed.”

Helen Stokes Lampard, Chair of the Academy of Medical Royal Colleges (AoMRC), said: “Simon has rightly earned the respect of the medical profession by championing the needs of all patients, listening carefully to clinicians and frontline staff, and by working collaboratively to agree and implement the bold strategic direction he set out in the 5-yr Forward View and subsequent NHS Long Term Plan.”

Chris Hopson, Chief Executive of NHS Providers, said: “Simon has been an exceptional Chief Executive at a time of huge challenge for the NHS. He’s led the service through the worst global pandemic in a century, including creating a world beating vaccination programme. He’s set out a clear, universally supported, future strategy to integrate health and social care and improve health outcomes in key areas. And he’s been a highly effective champion for the NHS inside Government in areas such as securing extra NHS funding. He will be much missed.”

Richard Murray, Chief Executive of The King’s Fund, said: “In his tenure at the helm of the NHS in England, Sir Simon has laid out the course for the health service of the future. He has been the chief architect of reforms that will deliver more joined up care for patients across England for many years to come, as well as a service focusing on reducing inequalities and welcoming diversity. Over the last year he has both steered the NHS through its most challenging period in history and overseen a vaccination programme of enormous scale and pace which will save many lives.”

Jennifer Dixon, chief executive of the Health Foundation, commented: “Simon’s expert leadership over the last seven years has led to significant investment and a clear long-term vision for the NHS, progress on improving and joining up care, and the highly competent management of the biggest challenge it has ever faced – the pandemic – all crowned with the successful vaccine roll out. Simon’s contribution to the NHS has been immense and singular, and we are all very much in his debt.”

Nigel Edwards, Chief Executive of the Nuffield Trust, said: “Simon has been a highly strategic and capable leader who proved up to the task of leading the English NHS through a challenging time of technical change and exceptional pressures on services. It is in part thanks to him that a stretched health service which could easily have been overwhelmed by Covid-19 was in fact able to lead the most successful parts of our national response. His legacies of a much greater emphasis on cooperation, and an autonomous and independent health service, will remain relevant for decades to come.”

President of the RCN, Professor Dame Anne Marie Rafferty, said: “Sir Simon Stevens has led NHS though enormous changes, challenges and has worked relentlessly to transform the service for the benefit of both staff and patients. He led on the creation of the Long-Term plan for the NHS, setting a bold policy direction & strong framework and foundation for building safe staffing into the future. He always spoke about nurses and doctors, in that order, and I would like to thank him for the incredible support he has given us as a community and profession throughout the pandemic. On behalf of all the members of the Royal College of Nursing I’d like to wish Sir Simon all the very best for the future.”

Professor Andrew Goddard, President of the Royal College of Physicians, said: “Sir Simon has been an amazing asset to the NHS and the UK in his role as CEO. His leadership, in particular during the pandemic, has modernised the NHS, brought much needed investment and undoubtedly saved many lives. His championing of fairness, equality, efficiency and quality of care for patients has been unique and many patient groups will be sad to see him go. He will also be very much missed by many that have had the pleasure of working with him.”

Nigel Edwards, Chief Executive of the Nuffield Trust, said: “Simon has been a highly strategic and capable leader who proved up to the task of leading the English NHS through a challenging time of technical change and exceptional pressures on services. It is in part thanks to him that a stretched health service, which could easily have been overwhelmed by Covid-19, was in fact able to lead the most successful parts of our national response. His legacies of a much greater emphasis on cooperation, and an autonomous and independent health service, will remain relevant for decades to come.”

President of the RCN, Professor Dame Anne Marie Rafferty, said: “Sir Simon Stevens has led the NHS through enormous changes, challenges and has worked relentlessly to transform the service for the benefit of both staff and patients. He led on the creation of the Long Term Plan for the NHS, setting a bold policy direction and strong framework, and a foundation for building safe staffing into the future. He always spoke about nurses and doctors, in that order, and I would like to thank him for the incredible support he has given us as a community and profession throughout the pandemic. On behalf of all the members of the Royal College of Nursing I’d like to wish Sir Simon all the very best for the future.”

Professor Andrew Goddard, President of the Royal College of Physicians, said: “Sir Simon has been an amazing asset to the NHS and the UK in his role as CEO. His leadership, in particular during the pandemic, has modernised the NHS, brought much needed investment and undoubtedly saved many lives. His championing of fairness, equality, efficiency and quality of care for patients has been unique and many patient groups will be sad to see him go. He will also be very much missed by many that have had the pleasure of working with him.”

Professor Martin Marshall, Chair of the Royal College of GPs, said: “Simon has been an ally for general practice and our College, acknowledging that the successful running of the NHS depends on strong primary care with his statement ‘there is arguably no more important job in modern Britain than that of the family doctor’. His successor must carry on with the clear direction he has set and ensure there is the continuous and consistent funding for frontline general practice to support it.”