Credit: Mohamed Hassan/Pixabay

Government is seeking to appoint a senior executive to spearhead digital policy across the NHS.

The Digital Policy Unit is a joint unit of NHS England and the Department of Health and Social Care. Formed of 250 staff drawn from across the two organisations, the unit’s remit is to “deliver ministerial and NHS priorities on digital, data and innovation”, according to a job advert seeking a new leader for the policy team.

The successful candidate – who will be based in Leeds and London – will spearhead public healthcare policy and strategy in areas including cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, and data and information governance, as well as supporting the government’s objective to drive digital transformation of the social care sector.

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“Our mission is to digitise, connect and transform the health and social care system,” the advert added. “This means ensuring core digital capabilities are rolled out across the system, including: digitised patient records and cybersecurity standards; connecting up our systems so that data can be safely shared to improve health and social care outcomes – for example, developing a federated data platform and secure data environments; and transforming models of care for patients, service users and the public – for example, developing the NHS App to act as the front door for the NHS, using technology to support care in the home; and creating the right environment for the adoption of innovation.”

Applications are open until 11.55pm on Sunday 14 May.