Nicholas Hicks

Nick’s career has included time as a practising GP, a hospital doctor, a PCT Chief Executive, a Director of Public Health, a public health consultant, a policy advisor to Government and a health services researcher. He has had several attachments in the Department of Health including in its strategy unit where he worked closely with the Secretary of State and other Ministers.

Nick qualified as a Doctor in 1982 and trained in general practice and public health. He has held clinical and academic posts in Bath, Bristol and Oxford. He was awarded a Harkness Fellowship, which he held at the Rand Corporation, Santa Monica, California.

From 1998 to 2002 he was seconded from the NHS to the Department of Health where he wrote much of the Coronary Heart Disease National Service Framework and, as a founding member of the small ministerial Strategy Unit, worked closely with ministers on a wide range of issues including the NHS Plan. He has published extensively with his areas of professional interest including value-based care, the use of evidence in policy making, outcome and quality measurement, coronary heart disease and health inequalities.

Nick has been instrumental in developing the principles and practice of outcome based commissioning in the UK and in understanding the implications for providers. He regularly advises commissioners, providers and profession on both strategy and the practical actions they need to take to make the most of the opportunities created.