Recruitment consultants working for NHS England have begun the search to replace Tim Kelsey, who left his post as director for patients and information last month.
Kelsey joined the NHS in 2012 after a stint as executive director of transparency and open data at the Cabinet Office. He announced in September that he would leave the NHS to take up a post as commercial director at Australian health company Telstra Health.
This week, Kelsey – who also oversaw the controversial care.data scheme during his time at NHS England – revealed he had been appointed visiting professor at Imperial College London’s Institute of Global Health Innovation.
Care.data head to leave NHS England for private sector role
Care.data – an in-depth check-up on NHS England's controversial bid to join up health data
Earlier this week, consultancy Odgers Berndtson began advertising for Kelsey’s replacement at NHS England, who will “lead for the NHS nationally the strategic procurement and successful implementation of the information and technology priorities that will support a modern, sustainable health and care system”.
The consultancy said that while the chief information and technology officer would be based at NHS England, their role would involve working with other national bodies, including NHS Improvement, the Health and Social Care Information Centre and the Department of Health.
It added: “The CI&TO will ensure the benefits of information and technology investments in nationally funded programmes are realised, support local health and care systems to digitally enable their planning, commissioning and care delivery, and transform public access to information tools and services.”
NHS England was not able to provide a salary band for the role. The deadline for applications is February 5.