Movers and Shakers news roundup

Our November roundup of appointments features a new digital navigator and project lead at NHS Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group and Better unveiling a new chief technology officer. 

Mohammed Arif has been appointed the digital navigator and project lead at NHS Surrey Heartlands Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG). Arif joined the CCG in September 2021 after spending time as the senior digital project manager at Surrey and Borders Partners NHS Foundation Trust.

Jane Milligan has been revealed as the new CEO for the Integrated Care System for Devon (ICSD), when it officially comes into being from 1 April 2022.

Milligan joined the Devon system in April 2021, having previously worked in north east London. She has also worked for the NHS for 33 years and has extensive experience at a senior level.

She said: “I have really enjoyed my return to Devon and am very much looking forward to leading our new Integrated Care System from April 2022.

“By working together, health and care partners across Devon, Plymouth and Torbay have already made good progress in many important areas in recent years. This is a good foundation to enable us to tackle the very real challenges we face in Devon to improve services, financial efficiency and enhance the health and well-being of our Devon population.”

Better has announced that it appointed Alastair Allen as its new chief technology officer.

He joins the openEHR provider following almost 14 years with Kainos, where he spent the last seven years as Chief Technology Officer for its Evolve product, and latterly the wider healthcare business.

In his role with Better, Allen is accountable for technology innovation, strategy and leadership for its suite of platforms, tools and applications.

He said: “Better is a company I have long admired for its approach to helping healthcare providers realise the benefits of open data. I share the belief that there’s a more collaborative way to deliver digital health by separating data from applications and moving away from vendor-controlled formats that stifle innovation across the sector.

“A more data-centric approach will allow an eco-system of user-centred applications to emerge, many developed using low-code tools. It will also enable innovation in clinical research and digital therapeutics and allow healthcare systems to form better insights into disease prevention and population health management. In ten years, I believe we will have seen widespread adoption of this approach, and that’s something I want to be a part of.”

Chris Hornung has been appointed managing director of public sector business at Totalmobile.

His new role will see him coordinate product and service development specific to the public sector and its sub sectors: central government, local government, emergency services and health and social care.

Hornung said: “Even with recently announced Government support for some public sector services, it’s fair to say that the sector is being squeezed like never before.

“We want to be able to further optimise our services and products to help our customers tackle these challenges head-on. An ever-increasing demand for services, especially in the wake of Covid, means that different ways of thinking are needed. We can help organisations by increasing capacity and service provisions, allowing our customers to do more with the same resources.”

Claire Darbyshire has been appointed as head of the social care and health technology practice at public sector digital transformation specialists, Agilisys.

Her new role will involve supporting Agilisys’ growth ambitions within social care and health, reflecting the crucial role technology now plays in supporting the public sector.

She said: “Digital technology offers opportunity and challenge in the social care and health sector. My ambition is to support our clients to explore their digital potential, create high-impact solutions to the challenges they are facing now, and devise strategies for sustainable future digital developments.

“I am excited to introduce the creative technological expertise at Agilisys into the dynamic pathways between health and social care, around communities and place-based approaches to make a difference to working lives, communities and the people who live in them.”

Channel 3 Consulting has appointed Ralph Cook as a partner to help its growth in the social care sector.

He joins Channel 3 Consulting from IMPOWER where he held consultancy roles at PwC and Syntegra. His role at Channel 3 will involve helping deliver digital solutions that shift the focus of health and care from centralised institutions to peoples’ own homes.

Channel 3 CEO, John Howard, said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have Ralph leading our growth into the social care sector. His appointment represents a significant investment in our ambition to make a profound, positive impact in an area of huge national importance that affects the wellbeing of millions of our loved ones.”