The NHS's most senior doctor is set to step down just days after the chief executive announced her resignation.

Prof Sir Stephen Powis, NHS England’s national medical director, will leave his role this summer, furthering the leadership gap at the top of the health service.

His departure follows the resignation of Amanda Pritchard, NHS England’s chief executive, who announced last week that she would step down after discussions with Health Secretary Wes Streeting, who has expressed a desire for increased control over NHS operations.

Prof Powis, 64, submitted his resignation to Ms. Pritchard in January and will remain in his position until early July, when he is expected to retire.

While his decision had been in the works for several months, it is separate from Ms. Pritchard’s unexpected resignation.

Having served as the NHS’s top doctor for nearly eight years, Prof Powis became a prominent public figure during the Covid-19 pandemic, frequently appearing at Downing Street press conferences alongside Sir Chris Whitty, Boris Johnson, and Rishi Sunak.