Movers and shakers news round-up

Digital Health’s latest movers and shakers round-up features appointments at Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust and clinical commissioning groups in Cheshire.

Clare Watson has been appointed to the role of accountable officer across the four clinical commissioning groups in Cheshire.

Watson has held the role of interim accountable officer at NHS South Cheshire and Vale Royal CCGs since September 2017, arriving in Cheshire from NHS Tameside and Glossop CCG, where she was director of strategic commissioning.

Watson is expected to take up her new position in January 2019. She will be tasked with progressing the work undertaken so far in realising the CCGs’ stated intent of formally merging in April 2020.

Consultant Surgeon Paul Lidder has been appointed as the new Chief Clinical Information Officer (CCIO) of Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust.

Lidder will work with the Cornwall IT Service and all of his clinical colleagues to ensure the trust makes “the best use of technology to improve care for patients,” by helping to lead and develop its digital strategy.

Sir David Dalton, group chief executive of the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group, has announced his plan to retire from his post as on 31 March 2019.

In a message to staff across Salford Royal and Pennine Acute Trusts, he said: “September marks the beginning of my 40th year of service to the NHS; for nearly 18 years of those I have had the privilege of being Chief Executive of Salford Royal and for the last three, CEO of Pennine Acute Trust too, after our two organisations joined to become the Northern Care Alliance NHS Group.

“I have been considering, with trusted colleagues, when the best time would be for me to leave the organisation and I am grateful for their advice. Although there is never a good time – I have concluded that with a secure future based on solid foundations and high external ratings, it is the right time for someone else to pick up the baton and lead the organisation for the next stage on its journey.

“At the moment I don’t know what shape my future will take, but I am certain that I want to continue a contribution to healthcare and to public service in some way.”

Professor Nicholas Peters has been appointed to Chair of Doctor Care Anywhere’s Clinical Advisory Board.

Currently Professor of Cardiology and Consultant Cardiologist at Imperial College NHS Trust, Peters is recognised for his role as clinical advisor to Google Health London and as a leading advocate for the benefits of smart technology in healthcare.

He also sits on the Board of DigitalHealth.London.

On his appointment, Peters said: “I am thrilled to be working with Doctor Care Anywhere to enhance its position as a revolutionary provider of online healthcare. Despite how far it has already come, medical technology remains underutilised due to concerns that its ultimate aim is to replace human-to-human contact.

“My role, alongside Bayju and the Board, will be to ensure that the highest standards of care are provided through Doctor Care Anywhere’s platform, enabling its virtual GPs to continue providing exemplary, accessible healthcare online.”