Deputy CEO and acting chief technology officer at NHSX revealed

NHSX, the new unit in charge of driving technological across in the NHS, has announced two appointments to its executive board.

Matthew Gould, CEO of NHSX, announced via Twitter that Dr Simon Eccles will act as deputy CEO of the unit alongside his current role as national chief clinical information officer (CCIO) for health and social care.

Meanwhile Hadley Beeman, who acts as the chief technology advisor to health secretary Matthew Hancock, has been appointed NHSX’s chief technology officer (CTO).

Beeman will be responsible for defining and delivering the internet-based technical architecture for the NHS and social care, with a particular focus on the transition to what NHSX described as a “federated data ecosystem”, whereby different databases function as part of a single system.

The CTO’s team will also create the process by which NHSX will agree upon and create standards.

Beeman said on Twitter: “I’m thrilled to be joining NHSX as acting CTO. We have a lot of work to do to get our systems talking to each other (standards and APIs) and get patient info to where they need it most (user needs).

“I’m joining a brilliant team and can’t wait to get stuck in!”

I'm thrilled to be joining @NHSX as acting CTO.

We have a lot of work to do to get our systems talking to each other (standards and APIs) and get patient info to where they need it most (user needs).

I'm joining a brilliant team and can't wait to get stuck in! https://t.co/k6X3GtStLp

— Hadley Beeman (@hadleybeeman) July 5, 2019

Gould suggested that the appointments, which are assumed to take effect immediately, are the first of a slew of imminent recruitments for the newly-formed unit, which was formally launched this week.

“We are building a great team, and will be recruiting more soon,” Gould wrote on Twitter.

Delighted to announce two important appointments for @NHSX. @NHSCCIO will also be Deputy CEO. And @hadleybeeman will step in as Acting CTO. We are building a great team, and will be recruiting more soon

— Matthew Gould (@matthewsgould) July 5, 2019

NHSX brings together teams from the Department of Health and Social Care, NHS England and NHS Improvement.

Gould, who was announced as NHSX CEO in April, has put forward five so-called “missions” for the new unit, which include freeing up more time for staff to spend with patients, giving patients better access to digital healthcare tools and improving the use of technology within the NHS.

In an op-ed penned exclusively for Digital Health News, Gould claimed “a relentless focus on improving local digital capability” would be a top priority for NHSX.

The health secretary has thrown his backing behind Gould, claiming he “understands the technology and people side” of the NHS.

“He can bring all of his experience from the tech domain and in the diplomatic domain, which is sometimes important in the NHS,” Hancock recently told Digital Health News.