Top 50

They say that people make all the difference. But do you know which ones have the biggest impact?

The continuing turbulence in health policy reveals dramatic changes in who is wielding power. So who has made their presence felt in 2008?

HSJ unveils the ranking of the 50 most powerful people in NHS management policy and practice in England in the HSJ Top 50. The ranking was drawn up by an expert panel in association with our partners, recruitment consultancy Harvey Nash and management consultancy Ernst & Young.

No fewer than 20 of this year's most powerful people are new entries. The list is insightful, controversial and most importantly vital reading, keeping your finger on the pulse of the health industry.

This guide gives you a profile of the top 50 - as well as politicians and government advisers, the rankings include clinicians, senior civil servants, strategic health authority chief executives, key players in the royal colleges, trade unionists, journalists, policy experts and regulators. We take you through their career history, their key achievements and any setbacks encountered along the way which reveal exactly why they deserve their position and command such respect.

The HSJ50 guide shows in detail both the complexity of power and the huge intellectual reservoir from which health policy is drawn and is an essential resource for any healthcare professional.