The 50 most influential BAME people in health

The health service journal (UK) has released its list of the 50 most influential Health Sector figures who will exercise the most power and influence in the NHS and in health policy over the next 12 months. This is the first time such a list has been presented and is produced at a time even more critical due to the ongoing pandemic. UK Chancellor Rishi Sunak is a notable absence on this list whilst Manchester United Footballer Marcus Rashford to some may be seen as a surprise inclusion. His campaign on extending school lunches was successful and indeed earned him an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire).

Here is a full list of the top 50 (In alphabetical order)

1. Dr Kamran Abbasi, executive editor for content, BMJ
2. Lord Victor Adebowale, chair, NHS Confederation
3. Dr Shahed Ahmad, national clinical director for cardiovascular disease, NHS England and Improvement
4. Nadra Ahmed, chair, the National Care Association
5. Dr Rosena Allin-Khan, shadow health minister and hospital doctor
6. Siva Anandaciva, chief analyst, King’s Fund
7. Dame Elizabeth Anionwu, emeritus professor of nursing, University of West London
8. Professor JS Bamrah, chair, BAPIO
9. Millie Banerjee, chair, NHS Blood and Transplant
10. Dr Sonji Clarke, consultant obstetrician, Guy’s and St Thomas’ Foundation Trust
11. Yvonne Coghill, former WRES director
12. Lord Ara Darzi, non-executive director, NHS England
13. Dr Vin Diwakar, regional medical director, NHS London
14. Professor Jacqueline Dunkley-Bent, chief midwifery officer, NHS England
15. Jacqui Dyer, chair, Black Thrive
16. Dr Navina Evans, chief executive, Health Education England
17. Professor Kevin Fenton, London regional director of public health
18. Marie Gabriel, chair, NHS London People Board
19. Martin Griffiths, NHS clinical director for violence reduction
20. Dr Farzana Hussain, co-chair, PCN Network, NHS Confederation
21. Prerana Isaar, chief people officer, NHS England
22. Raj Jain, chief executive, Northern Care Alliance Group
23. Professor Lord Ajay Kakkar, chair, UCL Partners
24. Dr Nikita Kanani, medical director, primary care, NHS England
25. Jinjer Kandola, chief executive, Barnet, Enfield and Haringey Mental Health Trust
26. Professor Partha Kar, national specialty advisor on diabetes, NHS England
27. Dame Donna Kinnair, chief executive, Royal College of Nursing
28. Ifti Majid, chief executive, Derbyshire Healthcare Foundation Trust
29. Ramesh Mehta, president, British Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
30. Patricia Miller, chief executive, Dorset County Hospital Foundation Trust
31. Joan Myers, director and trustee, Florence Nightingale Foundation
32. Dr Chaand Nagpaul, council chair, British Medical Association
33. Habib Naqvi, incoming director, NHS Race and Health Observatory
34. Anthony Omo, general counsel, General Medical Council
35. Danielle Oum, incoming chair, Birmingham and Solihull MHFT
36. Ali Parsa, founder and chief executive, Babylon
37. Dr Raj Patel, deputy national medical director of primary care, NHS England
38. Helga Pile, deputy head of health, Unison
39. Professor Mala Rao, senior clinical fellow, Imperial College
40. Marcus Rashford, footballer and campaigner
41. Steve Russell, chief executive, Harrogate and District Foundation Trust
42. Joan Saddler, director of partnerships and equality, NHS Confederation
43. Professor Laura Serrant, head of nursing, Manchester Metropolitan University
44. Gurdas Singh, co-chair, BMA medical students committee
45. Jagtar Singh, chair, Coventry and Warwickshire Partnership Trust
46. Professor Devi Sridhar, professor of global public health, Edinburgh University
47. Richard Stubbs, chief executive, Yorkshire and Humber Academic Health Science Network
48. Sue Tranka, deputy chief nursing officer, NHS England and Improvement
49. Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, deputy CMO
50. Owen Williams, chief executive, Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation Trust

Compared to HSJ’s long-running HSJ100, women are much better represented – occupying 24 of the 50 positions.

In terms of ethnicity too, there was a relatively even split between those with African and African-Caribbean backgrounds and those of Asian ethnicity.

But one group stands out as particularly dominant.

There are 21 doctors in the top 50. This accounts for a much higher proportion than in, for example, the HSJ100.

However, looking deeper we can see that 17 out of the 21 medics are of Asian ethnicity, 18 if you count Armenia. It will surprise few to see that Asian doctors represent a sizeable power block in the NHS, but its dominance is still striking.

Perhaps the other standout finding is how many of the top 50 work in roles which – at least in part – involve lobbying for an improvement in the lot of BAME staff and, to a lesser degree, patients. A reminder perhaps that many BAME leaders are still in an insurgent rather an establishment role.

The full list with descriptions of each person on the list is found on the hsj homepage although it is behind a registration wall.