Samantha Jones awarded key DHSC role

A former adviser to Boris Johnson has been announced as the new permanent secretary at the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC).

Samantha Jones, who is currently a non-executive director at DHSC and chief operating officer at renewable energy company Xlinks, has a wealth of previous experience working in health and social care.

After beginning her career as a nurse in the NHS, she went on to become a hospital chief executive and 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 prime minister Johnson in 2021, before being hired as interim permanent secretary and chief operating officer at Downing Street in 2022.

“It is an absolute privilege to be appointed permanent secretary at DHSC, working with colleagues across health and social care to support the government’s Plan for Change and deliver a rebuilt NHS, fit for the future,” said Jones.

“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.”

Jones joins the DHSC at a critical time, as the government rebuilds the NHS as part of the Plan for Change. She will be building a team to deliver this vital transformation which will include appointing a chief operating officer. Samantha will replace Chris Wormald, who left DHSC in December last year, to take up the role of Cabinet Secretary.

Health minster Wes Streeting said: “I am delighted to welcome Samantha in her new role as permanent secretary. “ Samantha brings a wealth of experience from the frontline of healthcare as a general and paediatric nurse - she knows what it is like to be working on wards and will translate that expertise to her work across the department.

“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.”