Meet Dr Adrian Hayter, NICE’s New Chief Medical Officer

The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) has announced the appointment of Dr Adrian Hayter as its new Chief Medical Officer, in a move designed to bolster its clinical leadership and strategic direction.

Adrian joins from the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP), where he served as the Medical Director for Clinical Policy. 

He brings more than 30 years of frontline clinical experience and national leadership expertise to the role, spanning general practice, NHS commissioning and national policy development.

The appointment, effective from 1 May 2026, follows the arrival of Professor Jonathan Benger as NICE Chief Executive earlier this year and signals a period of significant transformation for the institute.

A career rooted in frontline care

A practising GP at Runnymede Medical Practice, Adrian’s career is defined by a deep-seated commitment to primary care. 

Next year, he will celebrate his 30th anniversary as a GP Partner, a milestone that demonstrates his hands-on understanding of the challenges facing modern healthcare providers.

Reflecting on his new role, Adrian emphasises the personal and professional importance of the institute’s work. 

He says: "I am honoured to be joining NICE as Chief Medical Officer at such a critical time for health and care. 

“As a GP, I rely on NICE guidance every day to make sure my patients receive the best evidence-based care, from prescribing decisions to managing long-term conditions.”

His transition to NICE comes at a time when the NHS is shifting towards a more person-centred, neighbourhood-based model of care. 

Adrian’s previous leadership roles have prepared him for this shift; between 2013 and 2018, he chaired the Windsor, Ascot and Maidenhead Clinical Commissioning Group.

In 2019, he became the first GP appointed as National Clinical Director for Older People and Person-Centred Care at NHS England, a position he held throughout the complexities of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Driving innovation and system-wide collaboration

Beyond his clinical and policy roles, Adrian maintains international academic links as a visiting Professor of Gerontology at Singapore University of Social Science. 

At the RCGP, he was instrumental in supporting a network of GPs to influence clinical policy across the four nations of the UK.

Adrian says: "I know first-hand how vital it is that NICE's guidance is not only independent, but developed in a way that allows clinicians to deliver the best possible care, and I am committed to ensuring NICE continues to play its full part in a health system that must keep evolving to meet the needs of patients and the public. 

“My ambition is to ensure NICE continues to drive innovation into the hands of clinicians and commissioners, delivering real improvements in health outcomes while making the best use of the resources available to the NHS."

NICE Chief Executive Professor Jonathan Benger CBE highlights Adrian's unique ability to bridge the gap between clinical practice and national strategy. 

"His breadth of experience, combining clinical practice and national leadership, makes him exceptionally well placed to help us deliver on our ambitions," Jonathan says.

The 10 Year Health Plan and the future of NICE

The appointment comes as NICE prepares to expand its influence under the government’s 10 Year Health Plan. 

A key priority for the new Chief Medical Officer will be cultivating robust relationships with royal colleges, professional bodies and regulatory partners such as the MHRA and the CQC.

Jonathan adds: “Adrian's ability to forge and sustain those relationships will be invaluable as we work together to get the best evidence-based care to patients fast, while ensuring value for the taxpayer."

Starting this month, NICE is set to extend its technology appraisal process. 

This shift will require the NHS to fund approved, high-impact health tech that addresses urgent system needs. 

Furthermore, a new collaborative process with the MHRA is expected to accelerate patient access to new medicines by up to six months.

Under this new clinical leadership, NICE will also move towards a model of continuous evaluation for clinical pathways.

By identifying older treatments that no longer provide optimal value, the institute aims to free up NHS budgets for new innovations, ensuring that every pound spent delivers the maximum possible benefit to the patient population.