National Programme Appoints Regional Directors

The National Programme for IT (NPfIT) in the NHS has announced it has completed the appointment of four remaining regional implementation directors, bringing the total to five – one for each of the five geographic ‘clusters’ into which the programme has divided the English NHS.

According to the national programme the new regional directors will act as a lynch pin between the local NHS organisations and the centre in each cluster to ensure delivery of the national programme at local level. Their role will be to work closely with Strategic Health Authorities (SHAs) and chief information officers (CIOs) to support delivery.

The four new appointments follow the appointment of David Kwo as CIO for London in December 2002, who is described as having similar responsibilities to those of the newly appointed regional implementation directors.

The four new appointees are:

Paul Charnley – North West and West Midlands Cluster

Mr Charnley is a highly regarded senior NHS manager with 23 years of IT experience in the NHS and private. He was previously the CIO at Cheshire and Merseyside SHA

Robin Arnold – Eastern Cluster

Mr Arnold is an experienced senior IT manager was previously director of IM&T for Hinchingbrooke Healthcare NHS Trust. He also has experience in the private sector, having led major IT projects for Centrica. Mr Arnold has been seconded to the NPfIT since 2003.

John Willshere – Southern Cluster

Mr Willshere has over 20 years experience in NHS IT roles. He was previously CIO for Thames Valley SHA and is current chair of the national CIO group.

Martyn Forrest – North East, York and Humberside

Mr Forrest was previously the CIO for South Yorkshire. He has 14 years clinical experience and 14 years IM&T experience in the NHS, which includes seven year as Director of IM&T at the Northern General Hospital NHS Trust.

Commenting on the new appointments Richard Granger, NHS IT director general, said: “The new appointees all have a proven track record in the NHS in IT related roles. They will make an important contribution to the future direction of the national programme by supporting each of the crucial stages of implementation at a regional.”