NHSX to begin working in cancer and mental health

The UK’s Department of Health and Social Care has today announced the launch of a pilot programme for the new NHSX, working with clinicians and policymakers in cancer and mental health. If successful, the approach will be rolled out across the NHS.

Following the launch of NHSX in February, the UK’s Department of Health and Social Care has today announced the launch of a pilot for the new organisation in cancer and mental health. Digital and data specialists will work with clinicians and policymakers in these two specialisms to improve patient experience through technology. If successful, the approach will be rolled out across the NHS.

The work of the NHSX specialists is intended to provide support to patients, clinicians and researchers. For patients, they will make it easier to gain access to services through smartphones; clinicians will more readily get relevant diagnostic information about patients; and researchers will benefit from the collection and use of healthcare data.

NHSX is putting together a team of technical experts. It will be led by Matthew Gould as CEO, who joins the organisation in the summer. He is currently the Director General for Digital and Media at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and was previously Director for Cyber Security at the Cabinet Office and a former ambassador to Israel. Recruitment for other roles will begin in the summer.

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock said: “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. We want to invite brilliant people from government, NHS and industry will work closely with clinicians to cut through bureaucracy – meaning patients get access to the best innovations more quickly.”