Ruth Rankine

Ruth Rankine is Director of the Primary Care Network at NHS Confederation, the national membership organisation which represents the whole of the NHS in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. She joined the Confederation in December 2019 to set up the PCN network, expanding it to become the Primary Care Network reflecting the need for inclusivity across the whole of primary care. Ruth was the Confed’s covid vaccination programme lead during the pandemic and led national influencing activity as well as speaking on TV and radio on behalf of our members. In her role in the Confed, Ruth has also strengthened links into ICSs through the establishment of primary care focused forums with our partner ICS network. 

Prior to joining the Confed, Ruth worked in a range of strategy and operational leadership roles in the NHS and Government. She was Deputy Chief Inspector for general practice, online services and military health at the Care Quality Commission and Director of Strategy and Planning at NHS Direct where she led the organisation’s national response to the bird flu pandemic.

Ruth began her career in the NHS in the North East, moving to the NHS Executive where she worked in a variety of policy roles. She undertook a range of secondments to NHS organisations latterly as Director of Urgent and Emergency Care Transformation in Leeds. She was then appointed as Principal Private Secretary to the NHS Chief Executive and Permanent Secretary in the Department of Health where she worked on a range of high-profile national policy issues, gaining cross government exposure to No 10 Downing Street. 

Ruth held the position of vice-chair of Carers First, a charity for carers which expanded from a local to a national organisation delivering services across 7 areas of the country.

She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Studies and Languages. Ruth lives in Kent with her husband Andy and spaniel Millie.