Movers and shakers news round-up

Our latest quick-fire round-up of appointments from the UK healthcare scene includes movements at NHS Education for Scotland, AXA PPP and Healthcode.

NHS Scotland has appointed Dr Alistair Hann as chief technology officer of the new NHS Digital Service within NHS Education for Scotland 

The NHS Education for Scotland Digital Service (NDS) has been commissioned by the Scottish Government to build a shared platform that will enable health and social care staff, patients and citizens access the right data safely and easily.

Dr Hann said: “This is a tremendously exciting opportunity. We want staff to have better access to information that helps them do their jobs. Right now, that information can be split across multiple systems – which means sometimes it cannot be accessed at all at the point of care. The platform will enable us to make sure the right data are in the right place, at the right time.

“But it’s also about what people are able to do themselves, like order repeat prescriptions or book GP appointments. We have to think differently about how people are able to engage with the NHS.”

AXA PPP healthcare has appointed Eugene Farrell as its Mental Health Lead for large corporate business.

Farrell, who has most recently served as AXA PPP’s health of trauma support, will oversee the firm’s workplace mental health strategy.

Specifically, he will be responsible for conceiving treatment pathways and employee assistance programmes, client communications and industry advocacy to raise awareness and understanding of workplace mental health issues.

Farrell has over 30 years of experience within UK healthcare.

He will report to Soraya Chamberlain, head of corporate sales and strategic accounts at AXA PPP healthcare.

Farrell said on his appointment: “Workplace mental health is a vital business issue and I look forward to helping employers address it by building strong positive workplace cultures that challenge the stigma associated with mental ill health, and enable employees to deal more effectively with the pressures in their lives.”

Fiona Booth, the former CEO of the Association of Independent Healthcare Organisations (AIHO), has joined Healthcode as head of provider programmes and strategy.

Booth will be tasked with overseeing the launch and development of the Private Practice Register (PPR), for use in private hospitals.

The PPR will offer a ‘definitive’ register of practitioners in the private healthcare sector, with a view to improving cooperation between PMIs, providers and individual practitioners.

The system is presently being rolled out to hospitals and hospital groups, who will have the ability to search, view and add specialists at a treatment site.

Commenting on her appointment, Booth said: “I’m delighted to be joining Healthcode at a defining moment for the company. The PPR is an exciting and significant initiative for everyone in the private healthcare sector at a time when we need to show that we are learning lessons from the Paterson scandal.

“The PPR directly addresses the challenge of governance and demonstrates how seriously the sector takes patient safety.”

Richard Murray has been appointed as the new chief executive of The King’s Fund.

Murray, who currently acts as the think tank’s director of policy, will succeed Professor Sir Chris Ham, who is stepping down as CEO at the end of 2018.

Commenting on his appointment, Murray said: “After five very enjoyable years at the Fund, I am thrilled to be taking over as chief executive. With the health and care system facing significant challenges, our role in providing high-quality, independent policy analysis and supporting leaders has never been more vital. It will be a privilege to continue working with such a talented group of people and to lead such a great organisation.’