NHS England Assigns Three Senior IT Leads

On 7^th July 2016, NHS England has assigned three senior healthcare IT leaders to advance digital technology in the health service of the UK. In the replacement of chief information and technology officer role they hired:

• Chief Clinical Information Officer (CICO)
• Chief Information Officer (CIO)
• Director of Digital Experience

As a first NHS CCIO, Professor Keith McNeil has been appointed. Earlier, he was a CEO of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust where he managed the execution of an e-hospital programme. He has also performed in many senior roles in healthcare management across the world including Chief Executive Officer at the Royal Brisbane, Chief Executive Officer at Addenbrooke’s Hospital and Women’s Hospital in Australia.

Present CIO of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, Will Smart has been appointed as the new CIO for NHS England. He has had a broad career in IT across the NHS and in the private sector.

The role of CCIO and CIO are:

• Jointly lead the National Information Board
• Act as “commissioning client for the relevant programmes being delivered by NHS Digital”

The responsibilities are founded at NHS England and they reports to National Director of Operations and Information, Matthew Swindells. They will be responsible to NHS Improvement with obligation for its technology work with NHS providers.

And as a director of digital experience, Juliet Bauer has been appointed. She is the lead of Times Newspapers’ transition to online. The responsibilities of Juliet Bauer are:

• Drive the “NHS digital product roadmap”
• Supervise the makeover of the NHS Choices website
• Administer the improvement and implementation of digital technology for patients ‘supported self-management’, which include patients with long term condition like diabetes or asthma.

After the national director of patients and information, Tim Kelsey discharged from the NHS England, NHS has been trying to recruit a chief information and technology officer (CI&TO). Though the organization has resisted finding an appropriate replacement, NHS England decided to appoint a set of digital leaders instead of just one.

Commenting on the appointments, Matthew Swindells said that this outstanding team should make sure that NHS advanced on national IT approach and concentrate on providing improved results for patients care.

He further added NHS will receive shared leadership from these new appointments and NHS will not talk only about ‘IT projects’ in the future. It will specify ‘patient improvements supported by information and technology’.

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