Ben SimmsSector leader

Biography

Ben Simms is Chief Executive of Global Health Partnerships (formerly THET), with over 30 years' experience leading global health, disability and development programmes across Africa, Asia, Latin America and Europe. He joined the organisation in June 2015, having previously served as director of STOPAIDS, and held senior roles at Sue Ryder, Sense International and with UN agencies on rights-based public health programming. At GHP he has expanded the organisation's Health Partnership model, enabling thousands of NHS staff to collaborate with peers in more than 30 countries. He is a regular contributor to global policy discussions including the World Health Assembly, and champions ethical health workforce mobility and the role of diaspora health professionals. He argues that the UK must match the benefits it gains from international health recruitment with co-investment in health system strengthening in partner countries.

References

1. 1.Ben Simms – Global Health Partnerships staff page — Role title, organisation, career background, areas of advocacy, World Health Assembly participation
2. 2.Contact us – Global Health Partnerships — Organisation head-office address and postcode (EC2A 4NE)
3. 3.New APPG report calls for fairer approach to international health recruitment – Global Health Partnerships — Ben Simms quoted as Chief Executive; APPG inquiry findings on NHS overseas recruitment savings; co-investment argument
4. 4.Plans to cut NHS international workforce appear overambitious, say MPs – inkl/press coverage — Ben Simms quoted in press on NHS international workforce dependence
5. 5.Ben Simms contributor page – Health Service Journal

Expertise

Cited on

• Hospital discharge / bed-blocking

Stated areas of expertise

• Global health workforce policy
• International NHS recruitment ethics
• Health partnerships and system strengthening
• Diaspora health professionals
• UK aid and global health funding
• Anti-racism in global health

Notable achievements

• Led GHP's support for an APPG inquiry finding the NHS has saved over £14bn in training costs by recruiting overseas staff, and calling for proportionate co-investment in partner countries' health systems Source ↗
• Played a leading role in shaping the UK Global Health Summit, establishing it as a national platform convening government leaders, diaspora networks, academics and health professionals Source ↗
• Oversaw GHP's registration as a charity in Scotland in December 2024, expanding the organisation's UK footprint Source ↗

What they’ve said

• “The NHS is one of the most internationally connected health systems in the world. But when we recruit from countries that can least afford to lose staff, the consequences can be measured in lives.”

  chief executive of Global Health Partnerships (GHP) · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Plans to cut NHS international workforce appear overambitious, say MPs ↗

• “UK aid is not simply an act of solidarity; it underpins reciprocal relationships that strengthen our own health system, enhance research collaboration, and build long-term economic and diplomatic ties.”

  CEO, Global Health Partnerships · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Cuts to overseas aid will ultimately hurt Britain | Letters ↗

Source references

1. Plans to cut NHS international workforce appear overambitious, say MPstheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
2. Cuts to overseas aid will ultimately hurt Britain | Letterstheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026

Contact & links

• Staff pagehttps://www.globalhealthpartnerships.org/staff/ben-simms/
• Xhttps://x.com/bensimms65
• LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/ben-simms-0b19156/
• Websitehttps://www.globalhealthpartnerships.org/contact-us/

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