Movers and shakers news round up

Industry movers and shakers this month include appointments at NHS South Sefton CCG, Oxford University Hospitals, Civica and Guy’s and St Thomas’.

Alan Sharples has joined the Governing Body of NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) as its new lay member for governance.

In his new post, Sharples will oversee key areas of governance for the CCG, including audit and remuneration. He will chair the audit committee and take on the role of deputy chair of the governing body during his three-year term of office.

The former NHS finance director brings over 40 years’ experience of working in the public sector to the CCG.

Until recently, Sharples was a non-executive director for the Walton Centre NHS Foundation Trust, joining in June 2011 as chairman of the audit committee and the Walton Charity Committee.

Before that, Sharples was director of finance, information and commissioning at Alder Hey Children’s NHS Foundation Trust for nearly 15 years.

Speaking about his appointment to the CCG, Sharples said: “I am delighted to be joining NHS South Sefton CCG and to be given the opportunity to contribute to its work with partners in the borough focused on improving people’s health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities.”

David Walliker has joined Oxford University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust as chief digital and partnership officer.

Currently acting as CIO of Liverpool Women’s Hospital and Royal Liverpool Hospital, Walliker will take up the new role at the end of October.

Walliker will act as Oxford University Hospitals’ lead on developing integrated partnerships, particularly with the Thames Valley Cancer Alliance and the Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire and Berkshire West Integrated Care System.

He will also lead on the trust’s input in the Local Health and Care Records Exemplar (LHCRE) programme.

Speaking to Digital Health News about his appointment, Walliker said: “OUH is already doing a lot of work to transform the way it interacts with patients, the public and internally to go digital, but there is so much more we can do.

“It is an exciting area of work with huge possibilities. I am also joining at a really important point for the trust in terms of partnership working, as the trust works on refreshing its strategy and deepening its partnership working with other health and social care providers and engaging with local communities.”

Beverley Bryant has been appointed chief digital information officer at Guy’s and St Thomas’ and Kings College Hospital NHS Foundation Trusts.

In her new role, Bryant will be responsible for developing and delivering the digital strategy for both trusts and will also be accountable for identifying and managing the information risks, ensuring that both organisations have effective information governance systems.

Bryant joined System C as the supplier’s chief operating officer in 2017, having previously served as NHS Digital’s director of digital transformation.

On her new appointment, Bryant said: “Those who have worked with me know that I have been on a personal crusade to drive digital transformation in the NHS for many years.

“I am really excited to be given this opportunity to help lead Kings and Guys and St Thomas’s on their transformation journey.”

Steve Brain has been appointed executive director of Civica Health and Care, to lead the company’s dedicated health and care business.

Previously Managing Director UK for healthcare solutions provider Allscripts, Brain brings a wealth of experience in the healthcare technology sector, with previous senior roles at Computer Sciences Corporation and Cerner Corporation.

Brain will be charged with spearheading the expansion of Civica’s integrated health and care business across software and services in clinical and operational settings.

He said he was “delighted to have joined Civica”.

“As we all know, the healthcare landscape has changed dramatically over the last decade as new technologies have come to the fore and we are now entering an era of cloud-based, joined-up care which offers more effective healthcare provision for patients of all ages,” Brain commented.

“In light of this, providers are looking to work with trusted partners who have the solutions they need today so they can future-proof healthcare provision. It’s great to be part of an organisation which is supporting organisations both across the UK and globally, to streamline and offer integrated care solutions which ultimately help to save lives.”

Gary Nelson has been made the head of engineering at MediConnect.

MediConnect is a blockchain solution designed to track medication all the way through the supply chain, from the point at which it is manufactured to its prescription by medical professionals and purchase by patients.

As head of the engineering team, Nelson will lead the development of the MediConnect proof-of-concept platform, which is being designed to integrate with partner pharmacies, and will work with enterprise blockchain technology company Startis, which is developing MediConnect’s bespoke blockchain technology.

Nelson commented: “MediConnect’s platform and its use of blockchain technology will save lives so I am clearly delighted to join this exciting project.

“Our ambitions are clear – we want to become the go-to platform to stop counterfeit and overprescribed medication from reaching patients worldwide and I am proud to be a part of this.”

Joanne Shaw has been appointed to the advisory board of diagnostics software company, Dem Dx.

Joanne currently serves as a non-executive director and chair of the audit and risk assurance committee of NHS England, as well as a non-executive director of Vitality UK.

As a previous chair of NHS Direct, Shaw has a particular interest in the use of mobile and digital channels for health and medicines and the changing relationship between individual consumers, their own health and their health care providers.

“I’m excited by what Dem Dx is doing, and I can see it adding huge value to health care systems, educating and supporting health professionals, and enabling better use of scarce human resources,” she commented.

“I’m looking forward to working with this talented team.”

Want to tell us about a new CCIO, CIO or CNIO appointment within your NHS organisation? Email: news@digitalhealth.net