Duncan BurtonRegulator

Biography

Duncan Burton was appointed Chief Nursing Officer for England and Executive Director at NHS England on 25 July 2024, succeeding Dame Ruth May. He is the government's most senior adviser on nursing matters and provides clinical and professional leadership for all nurses, midwives and nursing associates across health and social care in England, including the 373,000 nurses and midwives employed by the NHS. He trained at the University of Wales and began his clinical career in respiratory medicine and neurology at the Royal United Hospital in Bath, before holding senior roles at University College London Hospitals and as Executive Director of Nursing at Frimley Health NHS Foundation Trust. Prior to becoming CNO, he served as Deputy Chief Nursing Officer for England, where he led the maternity and neonatal programme, the children and young people's transformation programme, nursing workforce policy, and infection prevention and control. He is publicly known for advocating that nursing expertise should be placed at the heart of NHS reform, including the NHS 10-Year Plan.

References

1. 1.New chief nursing officer for England announced – NHS England — Appointment date, career history including University of Wales training, Royal United Hospital start, UCLH roles, Frimley Health, and South East regional CNO role.
2. 2.Chief Nursing Officer for England – NHS England — Current role, responsibilities, scope (373,000 nurses and midwives), and Executive Director status.
3. 3.Biography – Duncan Burton | Nursing Live | RCNi — Career summary including DCNO work, Nursing International Recruitment Programme, and Healthcare Support Worker Recruitment Programme.
4. 4.NMC welcomes Duncan Burton as new Chief Nursing Officer for England — Confirms appointment, over 25 years' nursing service, and prior collaboration with NMC on workforce issues.
5. 5.

Expertise

Cited on

• Hospital discharge / bed-blocking
• GP access

Stated areas of expertise

• Nursing workforce policy
• Maternity and neonatal services
• Infection prevention and control
• Children and young people's health
• International nurse recruitment
• NHS reform and workforce strategy

Notable achievements

• Appointed Chief Nursing Officer for England on 25 July 2024, taking over from Dame Ruth May. Source ↗
• As Deputy CNO, delivered the Nursing International Recruitment Programme and the Healthcare Support Worker Recruitment Programme for the NHS. Source ↗
• As Deputy CNO, led England's maternity and neonatal programme, nursing workforce policy and infection prevention and control. Source ↗
• Appointed as a Trustee of Princess Alice Hospice following a period as a voluntary committee adviser. Source ↗

What they’ve said

• “Baroness Amos's independent investigation is a crucial step in driving meaningful change in maternity and neonatal care and we welcome her reflections and initial impressions.”

  Chief nursing officer for England · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Victims of NHS maternity failings in England ‘received unacceptable care’ ↗

• “Racism against NHS staff is totally unacceptable. All local organisations must take a zero-tolerance approach to discrimination, taking action including police involvement and criminal prosecution as appropriate.”

  Chief Nursing Officer, NHS England · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Racist abuse of NHS nurses rising amid ‘normalisation’ of extreme views, RCN warns ↗

• “The NHS is kicking off its preparations for winter earlier than ever, with millions of flu jab appointments for pregnant women and children available to book from today ahead of vaccinations starting next month. The flu jab is one of our best defences against winter illness.”

  Chief nursing officer for England · GP access · 27 Aug 2026 · Millions urged to book flu jab as winter preparations start early ↗

Source references

1. Victims of NHS maternity failings in England ‘received unacceptable care’theguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
2. Racist abuse of NHS nurses rising amid ‘normalisation’ of extreme views, RCN warnstheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
3. Millions urged to book flu jab as winter preparations start earlythepharmacist.co.uk · 27 Aug 2026

Contact & links

• Staff pagehttps://www.england.nhs.uk/nursingmidwifery/chief-nursing-officer-for-england/
• Xhttps://x.com/Duncan_CNOpublished here ↗

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