04.04.19
DHSC reveals early focus for NHSX digital unit and names CEO
NHSX has named its new chief executive as the government announces that its digital specialists will be joining up with cancer and mental health national policy teams to help improve patient experiences through technology.
The Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) has announced a number of new details about its new digital unit NHSX, which was first announced last month, as the health secretary calls for “the very best talent” to join.
Matthew Gould has been named as the CEO of NHSX, and will lead the unit to mandate the use of internationally recognised technology and data standards across the NHS to ensure all of its systems can talk to each other.
Gould will join in the summer and is currently the director general for digital and media at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and was previously the director for cyber security at the cabinet office.
He will have strategic responsibility for setting the national direction on technology across health and social care, accountable to the health secretary and chief executive of NHS England (NHSE).
One of the early focuses for the unit will be for its digital and data specialists to team up with NHSE’s cancer and mental health national policy teams to help clinicians and policymakers improve patient’s experiences.
The digital experts will support the teams in making it easier for patients to access services through smartphones, giving clinicians access to the relevant diagnostic information and making it easier to collect and use health data.
Other information provided about NHSX include a July launch date, with recruitment due to begin in the summer.
Matt Hancock said: “NHSX will be led by the brilliant Matthew Gould, and will harness the full potential of technology to improve patient experience and make our NHS the very best it can be. Matthew has a wealth of experience in managing large digital projects and I am delighted to have him on board.
“I want to invite the very best talent to join NHSX. If you’re an innovator and you want to serve our society, I want to welcome you to join the growing band of HealthTech pioneers at NHSX who are going to be on a mission to harness technology to save lives.”
Gould commented: “Our single goal will be to improve the care that everyone in the country gets by making sure that both staff and patients have the technology they need.”