Professor Dave Rosser, currently CEO of University Hospitals Birmingham, is to take up the new post of Strategic Director for Digital Health and Care from January 2023, a role intended to link public sector digital, technology and data programmes across the local area.
The purpose of the role is to work with the West Midlands Combined Authority, academic institutions, local authorities and the local health and care system to ensure that the reach expands beyond the Birmingham and Solihull health and care system.
Professor Rosser will create a joined-up approach to support how the public sector uses technology, along with helping to generate more inward investment into public sector technology programmes of the future.
NHS Birmingham and Solihull say that the role “will examine a range of interventions that can make a difference to the life of citizens and staff from how mobile technology can support people to book services online through to how organisations share data to support improvements in care.”
Birmingham will be used as a pilot, linking into initiatives across the West Midlands Combined Authority, Birmingham City Council and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, along with the local universities.
They add that the role is “crucial in delivering joined-up and sustainable services across the health system but also ensuring best practice is in place across a wider geographical area.”
Professor Rosser commented: “The potential for what we can achieve by having more joined-up digital and technology programmes between healthcare and other public bodies is immense and I’m looking forward to getting to grips with those possibilities and developing a culture where digital is part of the way we do change.”
