Lythe joins Vanguard following seven years with Specsavers Group, including over four years as managing director of Newmedica, where she led the growth and development of one of the UK's leading providers of specialist eye care.

Under her leadership, Newmedica expanded its national footprint significantly while working closely with NHS commissioners and healthcare partners to increase access to care. Rebecca also brings extensive experience in strategy, transformation, governance and operational leadership from senior roles with Specsavers and ASDA, following an earlier career with KPMG.

She joins Vanguard at a time when healthcare providers across the UK are seeking practical ways to increase capacity while addressing the challenges presented by ageing healthcare estates.

The Government's recently published 10 Year Capital Plan for Health and Social Care sets out a long-term programme to rebuild, renew and modernise NHS infrastructure, with the health capital budget rising to £15 billion in 2029/30, while reducing waiting times and improving patient access remain central priorities for the health service.

Vanguard provides mobile, demountable and modular healthcare facilities that enable NHS and independent healthcare organisations to introduce additional clinical capacity, maintain services during refurbishment and reconfiguration, and deliver new healthcare environments at pace. Its facilities include operating theatres, surgical hubs, endoscopy facilities, patient accommodation, diagnostic environments, decontamination units and other specialist clinical spaces.

Lythe said: 'Healthcare providers across the UK are facing the combined challenge of increasing demand, long waiting lists and infrastructure that in many cases needs significant investment and renewal. What attracted me to Vanguard is the opportunity to be part of the solution to help more patients. We have an experienced team a strong track record and an ability to provide high-quality, low carbon healthcare environments quickly and flexibly, and at lower cost than traditional builds.'

She added: 'I am passionate about working in partnership with the NHS and independent healthcare providers to help their teams deliver more care for patients. My focus will be on maintaining high clinical quality, strengthening our partnerships, continuing to innovate and ensuring our strategy is closely aligned with what healthcare systems need from us.'

Dr Graham Rich, chair of Vanguard Healthcare Solutions, said: 'Rebecca brings an exceptional combination of healthcare leadership, strategic capability and experience of growing high-quality clinical services. Importantly, she understands both the operational realities facing healthcare providers and the importance of working collaboratively with clinicians, commissioners and healthcare leaders.

'Vanguard has an important role to play in helping healthcare systems address capacity and infrastructure challenges, and I am delighted to welcome Rebecca to lead the business through its next phase of development.'

Rebecca will lead the wider Vanguard business, which includes its international healthcare activities through Q-bital Healthcare Solutions and its recently launched Vanguard Life Sciences division.

Vanguard Life Sciences extends the Group's expertise in modern methods of construction (MMC) infrastructure into advanced cleanroom, laboratory and containment environments for pharmaceutical, biotechnology and research organisations.

Rebecca added: 'There is also significant potential beyond our established UK healthcare business. I am excited by the continued development of Q-bital internationally and by the opportunity Vanguard Life Sciences creates for us to apply our experience of complex, regulated environments in a new market.'