- Baroness Dido Harding appointed to head up test and trace
programme
- Position will oversee implementation of the new NHS app,
mass testing and contact tracing programme
Baroness Dido Harding has been appointed to lead the
programme of testing and tracing as part of the government’s
ongoing response to coronavirus.
Her appointment has been confirmed by the Health and Social
Care Secretary , and will start
immediately, with the roll out of the programme to begin from
mid-May. This is a cross-government role and will directly
report to the Prime Minister and Cabinet Secretary.
will be the
professional link into public health expertise and will
support the science of the programme alongside the deputy
chief medical officers. His role is being expanded to allow
him to ensure coordination between the testing and test and
trace programmes, supporting .
Health and Social Care Secretary said:
“I am delighted that is taking on
this vital role as part of our fight against coronavirus. Her
significant experience in healthcare and fantastic leadership
will be an added strength to our test and trace programme,
and her work will be pivotal in our efforts to turn the tide
on this virus and keep people safe.”
Baroness Dido Harding said:
“I welcome the opportunity to take on this role and help the
brilliant efforts being made by the NHS and healthcare system
to drive down infection rates and contain this virus. As we
move to the next phase of the government’s plan, I am
confident that we can use the very best of our tech,
research, and people power to help keep COVID-19 at bay.”
Chair of NHS Improvement, will lead on the
new NHS COVID-19 app, swab and antibody testing, contact
tracing, national surveillance as well as immunity
certification. This is an unpaid role and has been
appointed due to her experience in healthcare and
successfully leading large organisations and programmes.
Baroness Harding’s appointment comes as the NHS has launched
its COVID-19 app on the Isle of Wight, which will speed up
contact tracing, support testing and provide advice to help
people protect themselves and the NHS.
A key part of test and trace, the launch of the app will
improve understanding of how this next phase of the
government’s strategy will work for the rest of the
population.
- Dido became Chair of NHS Improvement on 30 October 2017
- She is a non-executive director on the Court of the Bank
of England and Chair of the Bank’s Remuneration Committee.
She was Chief Executive of TalkTalk Telecom Group plc from
2010 to May 2017
- Prior to TalkTalk, Dido was Sainsbury’s convenience
director, having been appointed to Sainsbury’s operating
board in March 2008. Dido joined Sainsbury’s from Tesco plc
where she held a variety of senior roles both in the UK and
international businesses
- Prior to this, she worked at Kingfisher plc and Thomas
Cook Limited where she gained considerable retail experience.
She has also served on the boards of the British Land Company
plc and Cheltenham Racecourse
- She is a trustee of Doteveryone and a member of the UK
National Holocaust Foundation Board
- In August 2014, Dido was offered a peerage and sits in
the House of Lords as a Conservative peer. She was appointed
to the Economic Affairs Committee of the Lords in July 2017
John Newton
has been
Director of Health Improvement at Public Health England since
2012, responsible for health improvement functions. Over the
course of his career he has:
- led England’s contribution to the Global Burden of
Disease project
- been Chairman of the WHO European Burden of Disease
Network
- been Honorary Professor of Public Health and Epidemiology
at the University of Manchester and University of Exeter
- been an academic epidemiologist in the University of
Oxford
- Director of Research and Development in 2 large NHS
teaching hospitals (Southampton and Oxford)
- been first Director and Chief Executive Officer of UK
Biobank
- been Regional Director of Public Health for NHS South
Central
