Dr Martin Allen, Getting It Right First Time’s clinical lead for respiratory medicine, has been appointed as a National Specialty Adviser to the NHS.

National Clinical Directors (NCDs) and National Specialty Advisers (NSAs) are practicing clinicians appointed to work part-time at NHS England and NHS Improvement, providing leadership, advice and expertise across a range conditions and services, to help deliver the pledges of the NHS Long Term Plan.

Dr Allen is the new NHS National Specialty Adviser for Physiological Measurement, overseeing national work around the diagnostic tests which assess the function of major organ systems, such as audiology to test hearing and balance, and their workforce. His specific remit is for cardio-respiratory diagnostics – especially important following the publication of Professor Sir Mike Richards’ review of diagnostic services, Diagnostics: Recovery and Renewal, commissioned by NHS England and NHS Improvement, which addresses diagnostic strategy and community hubs.

Dr Allen has been a consultant physician at University Hospital of North Midlands for the past 25 years. His main research has been in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) and sleep, but he also has a major interest in respiratory physiology, currently co-chairing the joint British Thoracic Society (BTS) and Association for Respiratory, Technology and Physiology (ARTP) board. He was appointed as clinical lead for the GIRFT respiratory workstream in 2017, endorsed by the British Thoracic Society.

Four other GIRFT clinical leads are also currently serving as National Clinical Directors (NCDs) or National Specialty Advisers (NSAs) for the NHS:

• Professor Simon Kenny, GIRFT’s clinical lead for paediatric surgery, is the NCD for children and young people
• Dr Clifford Mann, one of GIRFT’s two leads for emergency medicine, is NCD for urgent and emergency care
• Dr Deborah Lowe, one of GIRFT’s joint leads for the stroke workstream, is NCD for stroke
• Professor Partha Kar, one of GIRFT’s two clinical leads for diabetes, is the NSA for diabetes and obesity

Their work as NCDs and NSAs runs alongside their GIRFT and trust roles, utilising their knowledge of their chosen specialty to inform and influence national improvement and transformation work.

Further information on the national NHS England and NHS Improvement roles can be found here.