New NHS leader Simon Stevens 'globally respected'

A senior executive at a private US health firm has been appointed to lead NHS England - the most powerful body in the health service.

Simon Stevens, who has previously worked as an NHS manager and acted as a health adviser to Labour, will take over from Sir David Nicholson in April.

Speaking to the BBC, NHS England chairman Prof Sir Malcolm Grant welcomed the appointment saying that Mr Steven was "globally respected".

"We wanted the best in the world and We've got, I think, the best in the world", he added.