60 Second Interview: Matthew Swindells

Matthew Swindells is the former interim chief information officer for the Department of Health, and now a managing director of health at consultancy Tribal.

What’s the first thing you do when you get into the office?

Make a cup of tea and log onto my computer.

Your current, favourite gadget?

My AIPTEK Digital Ink Pad. It lets me jot down action points at meetings, upload them to my computer, convert from handwriting and email them to people.

What’s the best thing about your job?

The sense that you can really make a difference to patient care.

Favourite book or song (or both)?

Book – The Great Shark Hunt, a compilation of writings by Hunter S Thompson.

Song – Simple Twist of Fate by Bob Dylan.

Pet hate?

People who are full of reasons for why things can’t be done.

Favourite website?

My iGoogle home page.

What annoys you?

The NHS IT community’s determination to declare NHS IT a failure.

In a perfect world, what would you be doing?

Playing centre forward for Everton.

What’s caught your eye recently?

A shiny, refurbished VW Microbus. Just how stupid would it be to own one?

e-Health innovation that interests you at the moment?

The development of NHS Choices as a personalised website.

Read E-Health Insider? We want to get to know you! If you work in NHS IT and would be happy to take part in a 60 second interview, contact E-Health Insider reporter Joe Fernandez on: joe@e-health-media.com or 0207 785 6901.