Oasis Medical Solutions, the independent UK healthcare IT specialist, has appointed Chris Spence as its new chief executive.

Spence joins Oasis from GE Healthcare, where he was responsible for the international strategy of its Enterprise Solutions business.

He has a 15-year track record in health IT, and was previously head of operations for IDX Corporation in the UK, up to the point of the firm’s acquisition by GE Healthcare in January 2006.

As ex-head of IDX in the UK, Spence brings detailed experience of having worked as part of the National programme for IT in the NHS, and with local service providers. IDX was originally selected to provide Care Records Service software for London and the South of England, before being replaced by Cerner.

“I’m really excited about joining Oasis,” said Spence. “The combination of excellent products, intelligent customers and committed people gives us a really solid foundation for our next stage of growth.”

Spence added: “There is a genuine spirit of independence in this business which I want to protect whilst working collaboratively and effectively with our chosen partners."

David Wilkinson, chair of Oasis Medical Solutions, said the company was building on a 25-year pedigree of working with healthcare customers and was responding to a “record number of enquiries” from care providers in the UK but also increasingly from overseas.

WIlkinson said: “We chose a chief executive with the ability to build on what we have achieved and to help create new opportunities for the business. Chris combines both strategic and operational experience at a very high level."