11 May 2021
Digital Health and Care Wales is pleased to announce that Helen Thomas has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer.
She heads the new Special Health Authority formed to take forward digital transformation and provide the national technology and data services needed by patients and clinicians.
Helen Thomas has worked in NHS Wales for 30 years and has held several key leadership roles in the field of data and informatics. In her most recent role as interim Director for the NHS Wales Informatics Service and interim CEO for Digital Health and Care Wales, she led the impressive digital response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Bob Hudson, interim Chair of Digital Health and Care Wales said: “We are very pleased that Helen Thomas has been appointed as CEO, following a rigorous selection and evaluation process. At such a pivotal time, her experience and commitment will be vital to build on the pace of digital change in health and care powered by the pandemic.
“Digital has been at the heart of the NHS Wales response to COVID-19, delivering new technology that has helped to save lives, and we thank Helen for her leadership and dedication during this period. We now have a tremendous opportunity to move forward and deliver the next generation of digital health and care services for Welsh people.”
Prior to her appointment as interim CEO, Helen Thomas was the Director of Information at the NHS Wales Informatics Service, leading on the development of the new National Data Resource – the NDR. She has also held the role of Assistant Director of Information at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board, with responsibility for providing the information needed to evaluate service delivery and to support service improvement and transformation.
Helen Thomas said: ”I am delighted to be appointed as CEO and feel privileged to have the opportunity to lead a new organisation and a refreshed focus on the delivery of digital healthcare services.
“Now more than ever we have the ability to use digital to transform health and care for the people of Wales. This is a time to build on the rapid adoption of digital services that took place during the pandemic and is a massive opportunity for all of us.
“I am really looking forward to being part of an organisation that can make a significant impact and to do so by working alongside healthcare professionals, technology experts and Welsh people.