Andy FletcherSector leader

Biography

Andy Fletcher has been Chief Executive of Muscular Dystrophy UK since November 2024, succeeding Cat Woodhead. Muscular Dystrophy UK is the leading UK charity for over 110,000 people living with more than 60 muscle wasting and weakening conditions, working across research, support services, and policy campaigning. Before joining MDUK, Fletcher was Chief Executive of Together for Short Lives, the UK charity for children's palliative care, which he joined in 2018, and had previously been Chief Executive of Longfield, a community hospice care provider in Gloucestershire, and Director of External Affairs at Together for Short Lives. A teacher by training, his career has spanned strategic development, public affairs, and communications in the voluntary and private sectors. He has spoken publicly on access to treatments, NHS neuromuscular services, newborn screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy, and the impact of welfare policy on people with muscle wasting conditions.

References

1. 1.Andy Fletcher appointed as our new Chief Executive – Muscular Dystrophy UK — Confirms appointment as CEO from November 2024, prior roles at Together for Short Lives and Longfield, and teaching background.
2. 2.Directors – Muscular Dystrophy UK — Confirms Andy Fletcher's current role as Chief Executive, joined November 2024, previously CEO of Together for Short Lives.
3. 3.Media centre – Muscular Dystrophy UK — Confirms Fletcher as a named CEO spokesperson available for comment on operational, strategic, and policy topics including access to treatments.
4. 4.Discover our bold new ten-year strategy – Muscular Dystrophy UK — Establishes Fletcher's public role launching and championing MDUK's ten-year strategy (September 2025).
5. 5.Every baby in England to get life-saving genetic test from birth – Wired-Gov (DHSC press release)

Expertise

Cited on

• Hospital discharge / bed-blocking

Stated areas of expertise

• Neuromuscular conditions policy
• Access to treatments and newborn screening
• NHS specialist services
• Disability and welfare policy
• Children's palliative care
• Charity strategy and advocacy

Notable achievements

• Welcomed as CEO of Muscular Dystrophy UK in November 2024, launching the charity's boldest ten-year strategy in September 2025 aiming to transform lives of people with muscle wasting conditions. Source ↗
• Quoted in UK government press release welcoming the decision to roll out national newborn screening for Spinal Muscular Atrophy across England from October 2027, describing it as 'a landmark moment for the SMA community'. Source ↗
• As CEO of Together for Short Lives (from 2018), led significant growth in the charity's impact and income, extending support for families and professionals and successfully advocating for better funding for children's palliative care. Source ↗
• Visited Scottish Government and parliamentarians in 2025 to press recommendations from MDUK's 'Missing People. Missing Support.' report, which found an estimated 7,300 people with muscle wasting conditions missing from official NHS Scotland records. Source ↗

What they’ve said

• “The figures were alarming and reflected the reality of what many people with muscle-wasting conditions were having to face. We know the NHS is under enormous pressure. This isn't just unique to neuromuscular services it's part of a wider healthcare trend.”

  chief executive of Muscular Dystrophy UK · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Physiotherapy care in decline because of poor NHS facilities, poll shows ↗

• “The decision to introduce newborn screening for SMA across England is a landmark moment for the SMA community and the many partners who have spent years working to make it a reality.”

  chief executive of Muscular Dystrophy UK · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · All newborns in England to be screened for spinal muscular atrophy from 2027 ↗

Source references

1. Physiotherapy care in decline because of poor NHS facilities, poll showstheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
2. All newborns in England to be screened for spinal muscular atrophy from 2027theguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026

Contact & links

• Staff pagehttps://www.musculardystrophyuk.org/about-us/directors/
• Press office emailhttps://www.musculardystrophyuk.org/about-us/media-centre/
• Websitehttps://www.musculardystrophyuk.orgpublished here ↗

Organisational contact points only, each taken from a page the organisation publishes itself. No personal or direct contact details are held or shown.