Matthew Swindells, who has been leading a review of NHS
informatics, including the £12.4bnNational Programme for IT (NPfIT), has
resigned and is to leave the Department of Health "shortly". He has
played a key role in leading NHS IT since thedeparture of Richard Grangerin
January 2008.
News of his departure comes only weeks after Computer Weekly
revealed that
Richard Jeavons is leaving the NPfIT, where he is
senior responsible owner for service implementation.
Their resignations are a blow to the credibility of the NHS
National Programme for IT, which is now left without strong
independent voices. Some will see the departures as indicating that
the programme is now in trouble.
Swindells is moving to private sector consultancy
Tribal.
Matthew Swindells'
review of NHS IT, which has yet to be published, is
likely to include some criticisms of the NPfIT as it
stands.
As interim NHS CIO, Swindells was due to be the opening speaker
at
HC2008
, the annual healthcare computing conference at Harrogate, where he
was expected to talk on the strategic role of information in the
future of the NHS.
Read more on Tony Collins' IT projects blog >>