Sir Keith Willett

Sir Keith Willett is the Professor of Trauma Surgery at Oxford University. With 43 years in the NHS he has extensive experience of trauma and emergency care, clinical outcomes research, healthcare management, and service transformation across many countries.

In 1994 he co-founded the consultant-resident Oxford Trauma Service and in 2003 the Kadoorie Centre for Critical Care Research and Education in Oxford. In 2008 he became the first National Clinical Director for Trauma charged with improving hip fracture patient care and to establish regional Major Trauma Centres and Networks. By 2012 both re-organisations were credited with marked improvements in patient care and survival. He also deployed as a civilian to support aeromedical repatriation in Afghanistan and Libya during the conflicts.

Then as Medical Director for Acute Services for NHS England he had national responsibilities ranging from ambulance services, emergency departments, urgent surgery, acute medicine, armed forces veterans, and national major incidents. He led the NHS urgent and emergency care Keogh Review and Ambulance Response Programme.

He was NHS National Director for Emergency Planning and Incident Response and from 2018-2022 and as Strategic Commander he prepared the NHS to leave the EU. From January 2020 as Strategic Incident Director he led the NHS response to the coronavirus pandemic. Keith is now Chair of South Central Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust.

He has presented research, and taught surgery and health leadership internationally. He was awarded a CBE in 2016 and knighted in 2021 for services to the NHS. He has a Queen’s appointment from 2019 as Honorary Air Commodore to RAuxAF 4626 aeromedical squadron based at Brize Norton