Meet the Team: Richard Parker, Chief Strategy Officer
What led you to join Norfolk Primary Care (NPC)?
I joined what was then NNPC in 2019 as a Board Advisor. Before that, I had spent four years as Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Norfolk & Norwich Hospital. In early 2019, I moved into a commercial healthcare setting, working with a healthcare data analytics company—a great fit for my passion for health informatics.
Having spent over 30 years in acute hospital settings, I used to describe myself as a “dyed-in-the-wool hospitalist.” My career began as a Critical Care Nurse and later evolved into strategic and leadership roles across the NHS and private healthcare sectors.
When I joined NPC, my aim was to offer ideas and perspectives on how we could collaborate better with secondary care colleagues to deliver improved outcomes for patients. The more I got to know the NPC team and saw the potential of primary care, the more inspired I became. I realised primary care could be the driving force for significant improvements in healthcare.
During my hospital career, it was often challenging to connect meaningfully with primary care at scale. NPC, however, has a unique culture and structure that fosters collaboration and real change. Seeing how NPC made those conversations happen gave me hope that we could make a real difference—not just for patients but also for NHS clinicians and staff in Norfolk and Waveney.
How has your role evolved since you first joined?
I started as a Board Advisor in 2019, but everything changed in 2020 with the COVID-19 pandemic. Like so many others, my work shifted to focus on tackling the unprecedented challenges the pandemic brought. I worked alongside the team to adapt services quickly, supporting initiatives like mass care home testing and setting up a step-down facility for elderly patients recovering from COVID.
After spending more time with the wonderful NPC team, I was delighted to accept the role of Chief Strategy Officer in 2021. This role reflects NPC’s commitment to innovation and forward-thinking care. My focus now is on driving strategic projects that place NPC at the forefront of integrated, patient-centred primary care. This includes advancing digital health solutions, exploring new models of service delivery, and building partnerships that align with our goals.
What does your role entail, and how does it support the organisation?
As Chief Strategy Officer, I shape NPC’s strategic direction to ensure we stay true to our mission: delivering high-quality, accessible care. I work closely with the Executive Management Team and other key partners to develop innovative solutions that meet the needs of our patients and communities.
A big part of my role involves leading digital transformation at NPC, such as using data analytics to improve decision-making and streamline how we work. I also collaborate with the team behind our “primary care enabling services.” This dedicated group coordinates clinicians across NPC’s range of services, such as EA, GPFD, and Home Visiting, making sure everything runs smoothly.
What makes you proud to work at NPC?
Since starting my NHS career in 1986, I’ve never encountered an organisation with a culture quite like NPC’s. It’s a place where everyone is truly committed to improving health outcomes, supporting one another, and putting patients first—all while keeping things positive and fun.
Looking Forward
While it’s easy to feel pessimistic about the state of healthcare, I believe we’re on the brink of a golden age for primary care in the NHS.
Primary care is the only part of the system delivering more for more patients while staying within budget. NPC gives member practices the tools and support they need to lead change at a time when other parts of the system are struggling. That’s what makes this work so exciting and why I genuinely enjoy every single day in this fantastic role!