Prof Erika DentonClinician

Biography

Professor Erika Denton is a consultant radiologist with a special interest in breast imaging at the Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, and Honorary Professor of Radiology at the University of East Anglia, a chair she has held since 2011. She trained at St Thomas' Hospital, London, undertook radiology training in London, and joined NNUH as a consultant radiologist in 1999, serving as Medical Director from 2018. She held national policy roles spanning two decades, including as the first National Clinical Director for Imaging at the Department of Health (2005–2013) and subsequently as National Clinical Director for Diagnostics at NHS England (2013–2016), before serving as National Medical Director for Transformation at NHS England. She publishes and speaks widely on healthcare policy related to diagnostics, AI in imaging, and NHS data governance, and serves as Clinical Adviser to Heidi Health, an AI clinical documentation platform.

References

1. 1.Erika Denton – Norfolk and Norwich University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust — Current clinical role, special interest in breast imaging, Medical Director appointment 2018, national advisory roles 2016–2020, Honorary Professor at UEA
2. 2.Professor Erika Denton | HFMA — Role as National Medical Director for Transformation at NHS England; prior role as National Clinical Director for Diagnostics 2013–2016; National Clinical Lead/Director for Imaging at DH 2005–2013
3. 3.The best way to protect NHS patients' data – AOL (Guardian letter) — Press attribution as Honorary Professor of Radiology, UEA and Clinical Adviser to Heidi; quoted on NHS data governance and GP records market concentration
4. 4.Heidi AI – Clinical Services | The Org — Confirms Erika Denton's role as Clinical Adviser at Heidi Health
5. 5.Professor Erika Denton awarded honorary Doctor of Science – University of Salford Research Blog

Expertise

Cited on

• Hospital discharge / bed-blocking

Stated areas of expertise

• Diagnostic imaging policy
• AI in clinical practice
• NHS data governance
• Breast imaging
• Health service transformation
• Radiology workforce

Notable achievements

• First National Clinical Director for Imaging at the Department of Health, serving from 2005–2013, leading the national PACS programme and delivering additional imaging capacity with marked reduction in waiting times. Source ↗
• Awarded Honorary Doctor of Science by the University of Salford in 2015 in recognition of her contributions to diagnostic services. Source ↗
• Awarded Honorary Chair (Professor of Radiology) at the University of East Anglia in 2011. Source ↗
• Convened and chaired the National Imaging Optimisation and Productivity Delivery Board as National Advisor on Imaging to NHS Improvement and NHS England (2016–2020). Source ↗

What they’ve said

• “It can be difficult to see patients waiting for a test to explain their symptoms, knowing the stress and anxiety that can create for them. It is also frustrating for staff, who are working incredibly hard every day to meet rising demand, yet continue to see waiting lists increase.”

  Professor of Radiology at the Norfolk and Norwich NHS Trust · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · Record number of people waiting for NHS diagnostic tests in England ↗

• “A genuinely competitive market would prevent any single company's decisions from putting the system at risk”

  Honorary professor of radiology, University of East Anglia; clinical adviser to AI care partner, Heidi · Hospital discharge / bed-blocking · 27 Aug 2026 · The best way to protect NHS patients’ data | Letter ↗

Source references

1. Record number of people waiting for NHS diagnostic tests in Englandtheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026
2. The best way to protect NHS patients’ data | Lettertheguardian.com · 27 Aug 2026

Contact & links

• LinkedInhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-denton/
• Staff pagehttps://www.nnuh.nhs.uk/people/erika-denton/

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