**Jacqueline Totterdell Named as New Chief Executive of NHS Wales Amidst Critical Challenges**
Jacqueline Totterdell, a veteran leader within the National Health Service, has been selected to become the next Chief Executive of NHS Wales. The announcement marks a significant transition for the Welsh health system, with Totterdell set to inherit one of the most challenging roles in the country’s public sector at a time of ongoing pressures and transformation.
Currently overseeing St George’s, Epsom, and St Helier University Hospitals and Health Group in London as group chief executive, Ms Totterdell brings decades of frontline and leadership experience to her new appointment. Her journey through the NHS began in 1986 as a paediatric nurse, before eventually progressing to senior management positions. This deep-rooted connection with patient care is expected to help inform her approach to leading the complex tapestry of Welsh health and social care services.
Her appointment follows the departure of Judith Paget, who leaves the post to take up the role of director general for strategy at the Welsh Government. Paget’s reassignment signals a period of fresh strategic direction as Wales looks to strengthen planning and delivery across its public health landscape, acknowledging the extraordinary challenges faced in recent years.
The new chief executive steps into the job as Wales faces mounting issues in its healthcare system. Persistent reporting reveals growing waiting lists, delays in treatment, and a public eager for solutions and speedy improvements. Against this backdrop, Totterdell expresses both excitement and resolve about her new responsibility. She has voiced her passion for enhancing the health service on a “whole-country level”, emphasising the importance of integrated, efficient care for all communities.
Reflecting on her own personal and professional experiences, Ms Totterdell is no stranger to the stakes involved in public health. She has previously spoken candidly about facing a life-threatening bout of influenza in 2019, which saw her hospitalised and almost transferred to intensive care. Drawing from this ordeal, she has passionately encouraged others to seek vaccination, highlighting both her personal empathy for patients and her clinical expertise.
The handover comes as the Welsh NHS seeks not only to respond to immediate operational demands but also to adapt and innovate for a sustainable future. Health Minister Jeremy Miles, in announcing the leadership change, applauded Judith Paget’s steadfast guidance during the COVID pandemic and its prolonged aftermath. Miles reflected on the “extraordinary period” through which Ms Paget had steered the institution and extended best wishes for her in her pivotal new role, which will focus on broader strategy within the government.
With Totterdell at the helm, government officials are optimistic about resetting the agenda for the NHS in Wales. Miles celebrated the incoming leader’s “impressive track record” and breadth of experience, expressing confidence that her stewardship will help accelerate key reforms, particularly as the nation strives for shorter waiting times and better health outcomes for its population.
Public sector observers recognise that the path ahead for NHS Wales is complex. The dual priorities of reducing backlogs and enhancing access to care demand not just innovation but also considerable teamwork across health and social care boundaries. Totterdell’s vision of “joined-up services” strongly aligns with the wider ethos driving contemporary public service reforms in Wales – a move towards holistic, people-centred care.
In the coming months, Totterdell’s leadership will be closely watched as she works to forge partnerships, harness clinical expertise, and build on the existing progress. For many within the health service, her arrival signals both the continuation of determined efforts to improve and a renewed sense of hope for sustainable progress within Welsh healthcare.