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New chair appointed for Digital Health and Care Wales

22 September 2022

We are pleased to announce that Simon Jones has been appointed by Welsh Government as Chair of our board.

Simon Jones joins us in October and will succeed Bob Hudson OBE who completes his appointment as interim chair on 30 September.

Simon Jones brings a wealth of experience having worked in the public, third and private sectors. He has served in a number of leadership roles in NHS Wales, first as a member of South Glamorgan Health Authority, then as Vice Chair and Chair of Bro Taf Health Authority, and until December 2008 he was Chair of Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust.  During this time, he was lead Trust Chair and also Chair of the Welsh NHS Confederation.

Most recently he was UK Director, Policy and Public Affairs at Marie Curie, the end-of-life care charity, until June 2021.

Welcoming the new Chair, Helen Thomas, CEO Digital Health and Care Wales, said: “I am delighted by the appointment of Simon Jones as Chair to the board. He joins our organisation at an exciting time as we develop and deliver new and innovative digital solutions that will make a difference to staff, patients, public and service users. His experience and insights will be truly valuable.

“I would also like to thank Bob Hudson, who has been instrumental in establishing DHCW, steering us through the transition of staff and functions from the NHS Wales Informatics Service and establishing the governance framework. I am very grateful to him for stepping into the role of interim chair and laying the foundations.”

Simon Jones said: “It is an honour to join the organisation, which has such a big part to play in the transformation of health and care services. There is an enthusiasm for digital that has strengthened during the pandemic and provides a springboard for new developments and opportunities. I am looking forward to working with my new colleagues in DHCW and the health and care sector to deliver digital services for the frontline and for patients.

“I would like to add my thanks to Bob, who I have known for many years, and I know that he will have done a great job of leading the Board in the early months of DHCW.”

Bob Hudson said: “I am very pleased to hand over to Simon who has the skills and expertise to carry forward the momentum and build on the foundations now in place. It has been a privilege to be in at the start and share in the remarkable achievements of the organisation during the pandemic. My personal thanks to everyone in DHCW.”

Digital Health and Care Wales was established on 1 April 2021 as a Special Health Authority and replaced the NHS Wales Informatics Service.