Medical chief executives in the NHS: facilitators and barriers to their career progress

The career paths of medical chief executives are highly variable with some becoming chief executives relatively early in their careers and others being appointed much later. Most of the medical chief executives in this study (13/22) were in their first posts; the most experienced had held six chief executive roles during his career.

There has been little if any structured support for doctors who wish to take on leadership roles within the NHS. Some of those interviewed for this study reported that, in the absence of structured support, they had benefited from advice and guidance from senior colleagues.