Former NHS leader appointed HQIP Chair
Published: 17 Jan 2025
New Board appointment promises new era for evidence-based healthcare
We are pleased to announce that Dr Celia Ingham Clark MBE, former deputy Medical Director and senior leader at NHS England, has been appointed Chair of HQIP’s Trustee Board. Her wealth of healthcare knowledge, together with our expertise in evidence-informed improvement, provides a significant opportunity to maximise the impact that data has on patient outcomes.
“Our current healthcare challenges require bold, data-driven solutions,” Dr Celia Ingham Clark MBE, Chair of HQIP’s Board of Trustees
With decades of experience in healthcare leadership, Dr Ingham Clark is well positioned to guide us in delivering our vision of ‘improved health outcomes for all through high-quality, evidence-driven healthcare’. At a time when targeted improvement is more critical than ever, her strategic insights will be pivotal when working in partnership with commissioners, providers and clinicians to translate data into tangible improvements in care.
Dr Ingham Clark, who was awarded an MBE in 2013 for services to the NHS, recently retired as Medical Director for Professional Leadership and Professional Standards at NHS England. Having held senior roles in clinical governance, patient safety, medical education and population health, she understands not only the systemic challenges facing healthcare today, but also the difference that patient-centred, sustainable improvement can make.
Commenting on her appointment, Dr Ingham Clark said: “Our current healthcare challenges – which range from health inequalities to resource constraints – require bold, data-driven solutions. HQIP’s role in translating evidence into action is critical to ensuring better outcomes for patients. I look forward to building on this vital work.” Her comments align with the findings of the recent Darzi Report, which highlights the potential of healthcare data, stating “The extraordinary richness of NHS datasets is largely untapped either in clinical care, service planning, or research.”
Since starting her career as a consultant general surgeon, Dr Ingham Clark has held multiple national leadership roles including National Clinical Director for Acute Surgery and Enhanced Recovery, National Director for Reducing Premature Mortality, and Medical Director for Clinical Effectiveness. As clinical lead for the National Clinical Audit Programme, she is a longstanding advocate for data-informed quality improvement.
Dr Ingham Clark’s appointment, which is immediate, comes as our focus is on collaboration and data-driven decision-making. By leveraging the NHS’s extraordinary data resources and strengthening partnerships with the wider sector, she can support us to address healthcare challenges head-on and deliver lasting improvements for patients.
Chris Gush, HQIP’s Chief Executive, explains: “Celia’s understanding of NHS systems, and her passion for healthcare improvement, align perfectly with our core purpose of improving results through evidence, patient engagement and partnership-working. Her leadership will help us maximise the impact of clinical audit and evidence-based interventions to improve patient safety, experience and outcomes. Put simply, if we maximise the value of healthcare data, we will save and improve lives, at the same time as reducing the burden on healthcare providers.”
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