Helen Buckingham
Biography
Following almost 21 years in the NHS - which Helen joined as a Regional Finance Management Trainee in 1992 - she joined Monitor, the healthcare sector regulator whose responsibilities transferred to NHS Improvement on 1 April 2016, as Chief of Staff in April 2013.
Much of her career has been spent in commissioning and system leadership roles. Immediately prior to joining Monitor she was Deputy Chief Executive of the Kent and Medway PCT Cluster and Director of Operations and Delivery for the Area Team.
Executive Director of Corporate Affairs, NHS Improvement
From 1 April 2016, NHS Improvement brings together Monitor, NHS Trust Development Authority, Patient Safety, the National Reporting and Learning System, the Advancing Change Team and the Intensive Support Teams.
NHS Improvement is responsible for overseeing foundation trusts and NHS trusts, as well as independent providers that provide NHS-funded care. It offers the support these providers need to give patients consistently safe, high quality, compassionate care within local health systems that are financially sustainable.
By holding providers to account and, where necessary, intervening, NHS Improvement will help the NHS to meet its short-term challenges and secure its future.