February 2021
Open letter from Helen Thomas, Interim CEO Digital Health & Care Wales

On the 1st April the NHS Wales Informatics Service becomes Digital Health and Care Wales, a new Special Health Authority.

This is a landmark change, which I honestly believe comes at the right time. During recent months we have seen how technology is absolutely essential to support the NHS Wales response to COVID-19. In fact, the pandemic has highlighted the wider role technology can play in supporting and improving our health and care services. It has changed attitudes, accelerated uptake and spurred on new digital solutions.

Virtual consultations, remote access to the single health record and advanced data services are helping all of us get through a difficult situation. So, during this crisis, it has been hugely rewarding to receive positive feedback from our users and stakeholders.

As we know health technology is a core service for health and care in Wales. And the IT systems and services we have developed and delivered over the past decade remain critical for the day to day running of health and care in Wales.

Moving forward we will continue to develop and enhance our core development and operational services, with the aim to support greater mobilisation and accessibility to data and information for health professionals and patients.

It is my sincere intention that we continue this journey together, working with our partners in hospitals, health boards, primary care and industry to transform the way we deliver digital services.

At the start of this big change, I want to thank NWIS staff and our partners for their contribution and input so far. We are in a great position to move forward, as one of the few nations with an integrated national digital record to support patient care, available across all care settings. But there is so much more to do and we will need to ensure we are able, with our partners, to rise to this challenge.

The creation of Digital Health and Care Wales is significant because it signals a change in emphasis and places a strong focus on the national tech and data services we need in today's world. Technology and data that is centered on integration and AI and takes the best from consumer driven digital services.

Technology in health and care is evolving, and that's a fact.

As the interim CEO for Digital Health and Care Wales, there couldn't be a better time to not just be involved in this sector but to lead the new national digital health organisation as it positions itself as an integral part of the NHS Wales family. I am genuinely excited by the opportunities that lie ahead not just for DHCW but for what DHCW will be able to deliver for the NHS and ultimately the patients of Wales. I look forward to working with you and supporting our interim Chair Bob Hudson and the new Board over the next few months.
New Board Secretary appointment for Digital Health and Care Wales

A Board Secretary with extensive experience in healthcare governance has been appointed to Digital Health and Care Wales, which launches on 1 April 2021

Chris Darling joins the new organisation from Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, where he is currently Assistant Director of Corporate Business and Chief of Staff to the Chief Executive. Key responsibilities in this role include leading on the health board's response to its escalation status (Special Measures for Maternity Services and Targeted Intervention for Quality and Governance) and the Cwm Taf Morgannwg improvement framework for Quality and Governance.

Previously Chris spend 10 years at Cardiff and Vale University Health Board where he was involved in strategic planning and management of the Integrating Health and Social Care Programme.
Chris began is his career as an auditor in a Chartered Accountancy firm, undertaking consultancy assignments, mainly involving public sector organisations, joining the NHS in the Southampton area in 2004, before moving to Wales in 2007.

Commenting on his appointment, Chris said: "I am excited to be joining at the outset of the new organisation. I am passionate about corporate governance, and believe good governance provides the foundation for organisational high performance, as well as increased stakeholder trust and confidence."

Chris is the second appointment to the new organisation and takes up takes up his role this month, joining interim Chair Bob Hudson.

Bob Hudson said: "I am very pleased that Chris is to join Digital Health and Care Wales, he brings with him a valuable combination of skills and knowledge that will be fundamental to both establish and take forward the strategic work of our new board."
New renal information feature to be available on the Welsh Clinical Portal
A digital summary of renal patient care is currently being developed for the Welsh Clinical Portal (WCP).

This will mean that doctors will be able to access a frequently updated view of their patient's renal care via WCP.

Clinicians with access to WCP will be able to view a patient's renal diagnosis, details of their most recent dialysis sessions, medications supplied by the renal unit, plus clinical notes from the renal system. It will also contain contact details for the patient's renal physician, surgeon, and (if relevant) details of their transplant team.

The renal team are also rolling out the ability for dialysis units to record medication administrations. This will enable clinicians to see a list of recently given medications where facilities exist.

The aim of the new renal feature is to support Primary Care and Emergency Department colleagues with information about a patient's renal care that would otherwise be out of immediate reach.

The digital renal care summary is being developed by Swansea Bay UHB and the NHS Wales Informatics Service as part of a Welsh Government Transformation Fund project on behalf of the Welsh Renal Clinical Network. The plan is to make the summary available through Welsh Clinical Portal in 2021.

NHS Wales Informatics Service | [email protected]