Changes are afoot within the top ranks of the NHS. The position of NHS CEO has come onto the market, though you’re unlikely to see a listing for it on Indeed. Amongst the applicants is Douglas Gurr, former Amazon UK chief. Douglas Gurr seeks to replace Lord Stevens of Birmingham, who has been CEO since 2014.

According to The Times, Douglas Gurr had to go through ten rounds of interviews and take psychometric tests as part of his application for the role. This is undoubtedly a challenging time to become the CEO of the NHS, so it is hardly surprising – and also somewhat comforting – that applicants are going through such a rigorous recruitment process.

Gurr’s background

Douglas Gurr is most well known as the chief of Amazon in the UK, a position which he held from 2016 to autumn of 2020. Based on this part of his CV alone, the application to NHS CEO might seem like an odd move. But, when considered in the wider context of his career, it is not all that surprising.

Gurr currently has a role within the Department of Health and Social Care. He is serving as a ‘Non-Executive Director with responsibility for the union’, so this application to be NHS CEO is not as farfetched nor unexpected as it may seem. According to the Telegraph, this current role involves ‘advising the Government on how it can work with the devolved administrations on tackling Covid-19’. When you combine his experience as chief at Amazon with this healthcare role, the new career move becomes less surprising.

Douglas Gurr is also currently Chairman of the British Heart Foundation which further expands his list of positive health-related work. Despite these areas of his career that make him potentially a suitable candidate, many are concerned about his history with Amazon and how this might impact the future of the NHS.

Opposition

Amazon is often controversial so it is hardly surprising that Gurr’s application has been met with mixed responses. Unite the Union are running a campaign for trade union rights at Amazon and have publicly voiced their concerns surrounding the ex-Amazon chief’s application to the NHS role:

‘Appointing a former Amazon boss as head of the NHS in England is like putting a fox in charge of a hen house …Amazon is steeped in corporate irresponsibility, including tax avoidance, poor working conditions and union busting. Amazon’s values are completely at odds with the values of the NHS.’ 

Criticism of the ‘revolving door between tech companies and the Government’ is nothing new; the most memorable example of this was when Nick Clegg was appointed as Facebook’s head of global affairs. Understandably, this close connection between the government and big tech has people worried. If technology companies have easy access to the ear of the government, it may become more likely that regulatory decisions turn out in their favour.

Conversely, there are benefits of having those who previously worked in tech in government positions. Those with a greater understanding of technology will be able to better assess the impacts and risks of technology surrounding elections or politically motivated cyberattacks, for example. In the case of the NHS, this could also be beneficial as it could streamline the creation and implementation of wider digital solutions.

A Harvard Kennedy School publication explored the potential pitfalls of this revolving door in great depth. Though this is focused on the US, many of the underlying issues remain the same. The author suggests that ‘rather than closing the revolving door, efforts should concentrate on implementing mechanisms to prevent it from becoming a tool for undue influence.’ It has potential for great benefit, but it must be used wisely.

A connection between the NHS and Amazon?

This isn’t the first controversy surrounding a connection between Amazon and the NHS. Back in 2019, the duo made headlines when the NHS allowed Amazon to access and reproduce their health advice through their Alexa smart speakers. Despite worries at the time, this did not involve patient data. The major concern was that Amazon would have the ability to use and pass on this otherwise copyrighted data and gather information about the health questions its customers asked – this could then theoretically be shared with third parties without NHS involvement or consent.

It is not necessarily the case that awarding the position to Douglass Gurr would bring technology into the mix. He may have a history working for Amazon, but that does not necessarily mean he would bring technology into the NHS role. It is likely that there will be more technology in the future of the NHS regardless of who sits as chairperson. Connections between tech companies and the health service have strengthened over the course of the pandemic as many health services lean into digital solutions. The presence of tech in the health industry has been massively beneficial but has also had drawbacks for older members of the community and the healthcare industry.

Final thoughts

Though Douglas Gurr’s application may seem odd at first glance – especially if you only know him for his position at Amazon – it makes a remarkable amount of sense. However, concerns about the close connection between healthcare and big tech are not unfounded. If Douglas Gurr is awarded the position, his experience in the tech world has the potential to greatly benefit the NHS.

It is essential that those who move between the worlds of tech and healthcare use their knowledge from the other side of the revolving door to benefit not only their new sector but also the wider community.

The new NHS CEO – whoever that may ultimately be – will have their work cut out for them as they battle the legacy of the coronavirus pandemic.

About the Author: Leo Hynett

Leo Hynett is a contributing Features Writer, with a particular interest in Culture, the Arts and LGBTQ+ Politics.