University News Last updated 04 March 2009
Mark Britnell, a leading figure in the Department of Health and the former Chief Executive of University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust will receive a prestigious Honorary Doctorate from Birmingham City University tomorrow, in recognition of his services to the National Health Service.
Mark is the Director General, Commissioning and System Management at the Department of Health, a role which involves having overall policy responsibility for commissioning, innovation, commercial development, competition, system management, and patient choice, practice-based commissioning, primary care, dental care, community services, long-term conditions, urgent care, clinical re-configuration, social enterprise and public and patient engagement.
During his time in this position, Mark has played a leading part in the development and production of the ‘Next Stage Review' (NSR), published by Lord Darzi in June 2008. He also produced the widely acclaimed ‘Primary and Community Care Strategy' which formed a separate, but integral, part of the NSR.
Mark is also responsible for the production of the well regarded DH/NHS Innovation Strategy which will deliver sizeable innovation and diffusion funds, prizes and awards. He has led the extension of GP access across England and he has developed the internationally recognised ‘World Class Commissioning' assurance programme for all PCTs in England.
In addition, Mark is leading work to develop a commercial strategy and operating model for the Department, NHS and wider system. As part of the NHS Management Board and NHS Leadership Team he has played a key corporate role in delivering excellent stewardship of financial resources, achievement of national targets, healthcare reform and enhanced capacity and capability building within the NHS.
His previous roles include the Chief Executive and Member of the NHS Management Board for the NHS South Central Strategic Health Authority; the Director of Operations, Deputy Chief Executive and then Chief Executive of the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust; the Executive Director of Contracting & Clinical Activity at Central Middlesex Hospital NHS Trust; the General Manager for Surgical Specialities at St Mary's NHS Trust in London and the Performance Manager for the NHS Management Executive for the Department of Health in London.
Mark also holds a number of Associated Healthcare interests including being a member of the Professions Modernisation Action Team which helped produce the NHS Plan in 2000.
He has also lectured across the world and is a frequent speaker across the NHS and is a regular columnist for the Health Service Journal. Mark is recognized as one of the top ten NHS managers in the UK by the Independent newspaper and one of the ‘100 most influential Public Sector Managers' in the UK by the Guardian newspaper and the Daily Telegraph newspaper. He was also ranked third in the Health Service Journal's top 50 most powerful and influential people in the NHS.
He will be given his Honorary Doctorate at 2.30am on Thursday 5 March at the Awards Congregation ceremony in Symphony Hall which will celebrate the work and achievements of students graduating from the Department of Health Professions, Diagnostic Radiography and Social Work.
Notes to editors
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