Director of Pre-Hospital Urgent and Emergency Care Access

Role Summary

As the Director of Pre-Hospital Urgent and Emergency Care (UEC) Access, you will lead strategic and operational efforts for key national programs encompassing NHS 111, 999, and ambulance services. This pivotal role within the Integrated Urgent and Emergency Care (IUEC) Directorate focuses on shaping the vision and delivery of pre-hospital urgent and emergency care throughout England.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide overarching strategic and operational leadership for NHS England's portfolio covering NHS 111, 999, and ambulance services.
• Drive delivery of national pre-hospital access programs aligned with the UEC Recovery Plan.
• Direct strategic planning for ambulance and wider pre-hospital urgent and emergency care services with a long-term transformation focus.
• Lead, develop, and nurture a multidisciplinary team fostering high performance and inclusivity.
• Manage significant budgets and resources with an emphasis on cost-effectiveness and value.
• Ensure governance, assurance, and performance oversight across the portfolio.
• Steer policy development and improvement initiatives aiming to enhance patient outcomes and operational efficiency.
• Cultivate influential relationships with senior stakeholders across NHS England, government bodies, regional teams, integrated care systems, ambulance trusts, providers, and partners.
• Identify and address strategic risks, issues, and interdependencies impacting delivery.
• Play a senior leadership role within the wider IUEC Directorate, contributing to culture, organisational priorities, and national policy implementation.
• Represent NHS England in sensitive, complex, and politically significant contexts.

About NHS England and the Directorate

NHS England is committed to enabling an ambitious, high-quality NHS by empowering its workforce and collaborators to innovate, provide outstanding patient care, and enhance the nation's health. The organisation’s seven regional teams bridge national strategy with local service delivery, overseeing system performance, promoting improvements, and facilitating large-scale transformations.

From March 2025, NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care will progressively integrate functions, with NHS England fully merging into the department.

Additional Information

• If appointed, employees will undergo an Inter Authority Transfer (IAT) through the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) system, which facilitates transfer of employment data such as competencies, continuous service dates, and leave entitlements. Applicants can opt out of this transfer during recruitment.
• Employees are expected to spend an average of at least 40% of their working time onsite in NHS offices.
• For informal inquiries, contact Nicola Mercer, Head of Programme (iUEC PMO & Business Unit), via email.