Editorial Friday 28 March 2014: A quick thought about Simon Stevens
Next week sees the arrival of Simon Stevens as NHS England's new chief executive.
HPI reisdent economics-and-everything guru Professor Alan Maynard has already offered Simon some advice, and very good it is too. I shall add to it on Monday, as doubtless shall the rest of the health policyverse.
But to truly re-enter the exciting online UK health policy debates, Simon needs a handle.
We have Comrade-In-Chief Sir David. Jeremy Hunt is The Bellflinger. Andy Burnham is The Mascara Kid.
John Appleby is iridescent. Simon Burns is SimonBurns4SOS.
We can't fail to give Simon Stevens one. That would be unwelcoming.
So the work-in-progress name for Simon Stevens is 'A Very Naughty Boy.'
You have seen Monty Python's Life Of Brian.
Remember Brian's mother's imprecation to the adulatory crowd: "He's not the Messiah; he's a very naughty boy".
Have a good weekend.
From the HPI archives
Simon Stevens talk at the Kings Fund, 2009
Simon Stevens interview, 2009
Simon Stevens interview, 2011