Movers and shakers news round-up

This month’s movers and shakers covers appointments at Kent and Medway CCG, South West Academic Science Network and Zesty. 

The first two senior appointments for the single clinical commissioning group (CCG) forming in Kent and Medway have been confirmed.

Wilf Williams has been named as accountable officer and Dr Navin Kumta as clinical chair.

Wilf will be joining the organisation in mid-February to lead the work on creating one single CCG for Kent and Medway.

He will be replacing Glenn Douglas, who is retiring as accountable officer of the eight Kent and Medway CCGs and chief executive of the Sustainability and Transformation Partnership.

Wilf, who has spent most of his career in the NHS, has previously held two chief executive posts in Kent, firstly leading Canterbury and Coastal Primary Care Group and then from 2002 to 2006 at Canterbury and Coastal Primary Care Trust.

Dr Navin Kumta was confirmed as clinical chair by the eight elected GP members on the new governing body. Navin has been clinical chair of Ashford CCG since 2011 and has a wealth of experience working on transformation programmes across the county.

He said: “The new Kent and Medway CCG will be looking to take a more strategic approach to improving healthcare for our whole population of about 1.8million people. We’ll be focusing much more on setting the outcomes of better health that we want to see.”

Rob Shaw has joined Zesty as an advisor with immediate effect.

Shaw, who retired from his role as NHS Digital’s Deputy CEO last year, will be responsible for advising Zesty on the future direction of its product portfolio; assist with making Zesty products easy for hospitals to implement; and ensuring patient data is secure.

He said on his appointment: “I’m delighted to join Zesty. They are a fast-growing digital health company delivering real benefits to NHS Trusts with a reputation for product excellence and strong technical delivery.

“Linking patients digitally with their hospital is one of the ways to reduce the cost of delivering care and really improve the patient experience, which is something I am very passionate about.”

Ash James has been appointed the newly created role of national clinical education lead for Connect Health.

With over 10 years’ experience working across a range of MSK settings including within clinical leadership and senior management roles, James is currently completing a PhD at Manchester Metropolitan University and is a media spokesperson for the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists.

His appointment is a significant step in the establishment of Connect Health’s National Clinical Academy, which will build on the company’s established learning and development strategy, setting a high bar for maintaining excellence across its clinical workforce.

The Academy will incorporate existing and emerging programmes including the graduate development programme (GDP), accelerated development programme (ADP), APP development, advanced clinical practice (ACP) apprenticeships as well as clinical supervision, R&D and audit frameworks. This will further enhance the benchmarking of clinical education and delivery at a national level and consequently the ability to positively impact patient outcomes.

James said: “I am incredibly excited to start in the role of national clinical education lead for such a forward-thinking and innovative company as Connect Health. I am most looking forward to working with its outstanding group of clinicians throughout the UK and it is my goal to provide them with the opportunity to become the best educated group of professionals in the musculoskeletal space.

“I will try to implement a pathway structure that allows for continued, targeted development that is a mix of face to face interaction with peers, patients and senior colleagues along with self-directed learning through the innovative use of technology. I want Connect Health to continue to be leaders in the delivery of outstanding patient care nationwide and hopefully I can add something to the team to help us achieve that.”

Jon Siddall has been appointed as the new chief executive of South West Academic Science Network (SWAHSN).

Siddall has spent the past three years as director of funding for Guy’s and St Thomas’ Charity and was previously director of innovation as SWAHSN

Commenting on his appointment, Siddall said: “It is a huge privilege to be joining at such an exciting time for the organisation. I look forward to building on its achievements and working with partners to tackle the major health and care challenges in the South West – a place I am proud to call home.”

Pete Rose has been appointed as the new deputy CEO and chief information security officer (CISO) for NHS Digital.

As reported yesterday by Digital Health News, Rose will be responsible for running all of NHS Digital’s live services, solutions assurance and internal cyber security in addition to supporting organisations across health and care to bolster their own information security in his role as the system’s CISO.

Joining in late Spring, Rose brings nearly 30 years of experience in delivering mission-critical digital and technology services, programmes and business change, primarily to the defence, security and public safety sectors. He is currently director of enterprise services and deputy chief digital, data and technology officer at the Home Office.

Commenting on his appointment, Rose said: “I’m delighted to be joining NHS Digital later in the Spring and contributing to the support of the health and social care system. I’ve always been motivated by supporting essential, front-line services to the public through technology, so the opportunity to work in the NHS is a huge privilege and an exciting challenge.

“I look forward to working with, and learning from, health and social care specialists from across the sector, as well as contributing my own experience from other sectors.”

Hadley Beeman has stepped down from her role as NHSX CTO following the appointment of David Turner this week.

Beeman will continue her role as chief technology adviser to health secretary Matt Hancock.

She tweeted to say it had been a “great honour” to serve as CTO for NHSX, adding that Turner is a “great strategic leader” who is the ideal candidate to ”take forward the rest of building the teams and focusing our aims into tangible delivery”.

“I’ll remain the Sec of State’s Chief Tech Adviser, close to NHSX and championing all efforts to transform NHS & social care into the best they can be— for patients, clinicians, staff, technologists and innovators. Exciting time, and great to work with all of you to make it happen.”