Dr Philip Scott from the University of Portsmouth has been appointed chair of BCS Health and Care, part of the BCS, The Chartered Institute for IT.
Dr Scott says his main priority will be looking at how The Chartered Institute for IT can boost its role in supporting the professionalism of digital workers within this sector. Dr Scott says he also wants BCS Health and Care to raise its profile within the NHS and the government, providing guidance on a range of IT issues that affect healthcare.
Dr Scott, a Reader and member of the Centre for Healthcare Modelling and Informatics in the School of Computing, said: “I’m pleased to be appointed chair of BCS Health and Care. My main focus will be developing ideas around how BCS can offer more, for instance, around continuous professional development. I’d like to talk to Health Education England about what that should look like. Also, I want to look at how we interact more directly with employers in the NHS and social care.”
His appointment comes as the NHS in England revealed its vision to push for more digitisation of the health service. Last week NHSX put out its Tech Plan for consultation, in which it outlines how the NHS would become a “truly data-driven system”.
Adam Thilthorpe, director for professionalism at BCS, said: “It’s great that Philip is taking the helm at BCS Health and Care at a time of exciting change in the NHS. We look forward to listening to what he has to say around how we can promote professionalism in IT in this sector. It is an issue that BCS is already firmly committed to.”
My main focus will be developing ideas around how BCS can offer more, for instance, around continuous professional development. I’d like to talk to Health Education England about what that should look like.
BCS is already part of the consortium behind the Federation for Informatics Professions, FEDIP, which maintains a public register that demonstrates the professional competency of informatics staff and it offers Professional Registration for IT Technicians (RITTech).
Dr Scott added: “I’d also like us to identify key topics where we can offer thought leadership – for instance on digital health maturity and governance issues around AI.”
Dr Scott was formerly the Vice-Chair of BCS Health and Care and takes over from Andy Kinnear who held the post for three years. Dr Scott has worked in health and care informatics for over 25 years.
He is a Reader in Health Informatics at the University of Portsmouth, Digital Healthcare Architect at Portsmouth Hospitals NHS Trust, and Deputy Editor of BMJ Health & Care Informatics.
Currently, he also serves on the Boards of Professional Record Standards Body and Health Level 7 UK and is Chair of the Evaluation Working Group of the European Federation of Medical Informatics.
BCS is a membership organisation with over 50 specialist groups made up of IT professionals who provide expertise and a forum for debate and discussion around their chosen subject.