Health minister Sussan Ley has announced that a former NHS executive will take the top role at the recently created Australian Digital Health Agency (ADHA).
Telstra Health commercial and strategy director Tim Kelsey will take up the role of ADHA CEO in mid-August, the minister announced.
Kelsey is also former NHS England national director for patients and information. Kelsey’s NHS England role combined CTO and CIO functions as well as responsibility for patient and public participation, marketing, brand and communications for the national commissioner for health and care services, a statement issued by Ley said.
As the inaugural chair of the National Information Board in England, Kelsey helped oversee the development of a new NHS digital health strategy.
ADHA commenced operations last month as a successor to the National E-Health Transition Authority (NeHTA).
The organisation’s responsibilities include operating the national eHealth record — the My Health Record, which was formerly the Personally Controlled eHealth Record (PCEHR). The change in name and the creation of the a new agency to manage the record were both recommendations contained in a 2013 review of the eHealth record’s rollout.