Keith Derbyshire
Honorary Professor

Profile

Biography

Keith Derbyshire holds a BSc in Economics from the London School of Economics. In 1992, he became a member of the Government Economic Service. He has worked in the NHS and Department of Health [DH] for 30+ years, primarily in analytical roles, but also holding important posts in finance and policy. 

Keith served under 8 Secretaries of State whilst working in DH and was involved in both the creation and dismantling of the ‘internal market’. He played significant role in the development and implementation of the NHS Plan and the System Reform agenda of the mid-2000s. He worked for 5 years as Deputy Director Finance in the interesting period 2007 to 2012 (global recession, two Spending Reviews, biggest ever reforms to NHS). He became DH Chief Economist in 2012 and Chief Analyst in 2015. 

Throughout his career, Keith has worked closely with academics at York, Sheffield, Exeter, Aberdeen, and Manchester universities, delivering major research projects that have changed the way the NHS is managed by the centre. Successful co-production has improved the way resources are allocated to NHS commissioners and Teaching Hospitals; the way hospitals are reimbursed for activity and outcomes; how NHS productivity is measured; the way doctors are remunerated; and how DH assesses the cost effectiveness of new health technologies. His particular field of interest is promoting the use of evidence and analysis to inform, develop and refine both policy and practice.