Mark Jones has been appointed to the role of Chief Information Officer (CIO) within the North Cumbria Integrated Care System (ICS).

Working system-wide, the CIO role helps set and lead the digital strategy, designed to empower and support staff and citizens get the most from digital technology across our NHS providers and commissioners and linking with social care.

Mr Jones has previously held digital roles in the private sector within banking, the financial sector and technology services. In 2005, he made the move to the NHS, working within Acute Care, Mental Health and Learning Disabilities, Community Care, Primary Care and Clinical Commissioning Groups.

He joins the North Cumbria Health and Care System from Devon Partnership NHS Trust, where he also held the role of CIO.  He is also a current member of the first NHS Digital Academy.

Mr Jones said:

‘I’ve had a great first couple of weeks getting to know the teams, and I can’t wait to see what the first few months of my new role bring. When I saw the role advertised, I knew I had to apply, and I’m relishing the opportunity to help shape the digital future for the region. The right technology, shaped around the health and care of the people who use our services, will help provide truly integrated care, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it.’

Tim Evans, Associate Chief Operating Officer and lead officer for the development of Integrated Care Communities said:

“As we are developing Integrated Care Communities by bringing together primary care doctors and their teams with adult social care and community health teams, it is more important than ever that we make sure our technology not only links across organisational boundaries but enables our staff to work in a more flexible and mobile way. Mark Jones has joined at a really exciting time.”

Notes

The NHS Digital Academy is a virtual organisation set up to develop a new generation of digital leaders who can drive the information and technology transformation of the NHS.  The NHS Digital Academy, through a partnership with Imperial College London, the University of Edinburgh and Harvard Medical School, provides a year-long world class learning programme (Post Graduate Diploma in Digital Health Leadership) for digital change leaders. You can read more on the Digital Academy website.