The Incisive Health senior advisory team will be bolstered by the appointment of Professor Sir Mike Richards as Senior Counsel, where he will work alongside Richard Douglas as of October.
Sir Mike has a track record as one of the most respected and effective clinical leaders in the NHS, having most recently served as Chief Inspector of Hospitals, where he spearheaded the inspection, quality and safety agenda. Before that he served in senior clinical roles at NHS England and the Department of Health, including as the National Clinical Director for Cancer for over a decade. He has been responsible for developing clinical strategies on cancer, end of life care and cardiovascular disease. He has also been instrumental in delivering reforms to access to medicines, through his work on the ‘top ups’ review, which led to reforms to NICE and his leadership of the project to analyse international variations in drug usage.
Mike Birtwistle, one of Incisive Health’s founding partners, said: “Mike’s impact on improving clinical quality and health outcomes is second to none. His work has benefitted millions, directly leading to earlier diagnosis of serious ill health, improved treatment, safer care and better patient experience. His commitment to patients, collaborative style and desire to deliver change makes him the perfect addition to our team. It is great news that Incisive Health clients will get to benefit from his expertise and that our talented team will have the opportunity to work with and learn from him.”
Commenting on his appointment, Sir Mike said: "I have always been impressed by the quality of Incisive Health's insight and advice and their ability to deliver results which make a difference for patients, the NHS and their clients. The team understands what drives change in health and they know how to bring people together. These are vital attributes if the NHS is to navigate the tough financial climate to improve quality and deliver better outcomes. I look forward to playing my part in helping the Incisive Health team make this happen."