02.12.19
First Director of Digital for Welsh Ambulance Service
The Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust has today (2 Dec) appointed its first director of digital services, Andy Haywood.
A former Royal Navy Officer, he has been entrusted with shaping and overseeing ambitious digital services strategies aimed at supporting and improving patient care and staff experiences in the digital era.
Andy was previously associate director of digital at Leeds Teaching Hospitals Trust and before that he held a role as head of relationship management at NHS Digital.
Many of his previous roles required the in-depth knowledge of digital he offers, including programme manager responsible for cyber security, networks and a multi-million-pound budget. He has also served with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, responsible for the second largest air traffic control squadron.
This role included the overseeing of an £11m upgrade including new facilities for the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.
Chief Executive Jason Killens said:
“The Welsh Ambulance Service has undergone significant transformation over the last four years and is today celebrated as one of the most innovative of its kind internationally.
“We want this to continue, and Andy’s appointment – the first of its kind for our ambulance service – is testament to just how committed we are to using digital technology to enhance our services.
“Andy brings a wealth of expert knowledge and experience, and we look forward to him joining our ambulance service family.”
Andy will officially join the trust in Jan 2020, and will be in charge of understanding the scale and responsibility of WAST and using new and innovative technologies to answer them, all the while transforming patient care.
He said:
“I’m tremendously excited to be joining such a progressive organisation as the Welsh Ambulance Service, at a time where there is a renewed focus on digital transformation across the Welsh health and care system.”
Photo: Andy Haywood