The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has appointed four senior business leaders to improve oversight and performance management of some of the NHS’s most critical private sector suppliers. This move is part of a wider effort to ensure resilience, efficiency, and value for money across the health system’s supply chain.

The new Commercial Governing Boards will act as strategic advisors for high-priority suppliers to the NHS, covering everything from medical technology and diagnostics to software systems and digital infrastructure. It marks the first time the DHSC has implemented formal board-level governance for its most significant health service suppliers.

Meet the appointees:

* Deborah Steane, former executive at Johnson & Johnson, brings 27 years of global MedTech leadership experience. A former NHS microbiologist, she has also advised on UK manufacturing investment and life sciences workforce development.

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* Keith Nurcombe, founder of Doctorlink and current Chair at DHU Healthcare, is known for driving digital transformation in NHS primary care. He also serves as a non-executive director at multiple NHS trusts and West Midlands 5G.

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* Oliver Cofler, an operations leader with experience at Alliance Healthcare and Millbrook Healthcare, joins the programme from his current role as a non-executive director at South Warwickshire University NHS Foundation Trust.

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* Paul Richards, former NHS executive and current non-executive director at Torbay and South Devon NHS Foundation Trust, will lend his expertise in digital health, having led tech implementation across NHS trusts and private sector firms including IBM and Allscripts.


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Strategic oversight, not contract management
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‍These boards won’t replace existing procurement or contracting arrangements, but instead provide high-level input on supplier strategy, operational risks, and alignment with NHS priorities. Their remit includes helping suppliers meet standards around cost-effectiveness, performance, and resilience, especially relevant in the wake of pandemic supply pressures and the push for more robust digital infrastructure.
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This initiative builds on broader reforms across the NHS commercial landscape, including the creation of NHS Supply Chain, centralised buying frameworks, and efforts to standardise tech procurement across Integrated Care Systems.

Why it matters

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The NHS’s reliance on key strategic suppliers, from EPR vendors to device manufacturers, has grown alongside its digital transformation. These appointments signal a more active stance from DHSC in shaping supplier relationships and aligning private sector delivery with public health goals.

As health systems continue to digitise and decentralise, ensuring the stability and accountability of private partners will be critical. The addition of experienced leaders from across healthcare, tech, and operations could help bridge the gap between policy and delivery.

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