NHS Digital chief nurse ‘stepping down’ as chief medical officer goes part-time

NHS Digital’s chief nurse is “stepping down”, as the organisation also confirmed that its chief medical officer, Caldicott guardian and head of information governance, Martin Severs, is to move to a part-time position.

The organisation confirmed that Anne Cooper’s career move had been made so she could pursue other projects.

Cooper qualified as a nurse in 1986 and has spent the last 15 years working in informatics.

She had her final speaking session for NHS Digital at UK e-health week on 16 May, with a number of people taking to social media to share the moment and discuss the impact she’d had.

Sarah Wilkinson, chief executive at NHS Digital, said the organisation would look to replace Anne in “due course”.

It’s a wrap!! Our Chief Nurse @Anniecoops delivers her final speaking session for @NHSDigital to a packed audience at #EHW2018 Good Luck in all your future endeavours Anne!! pic.twitter.com/hePunymLgS

— Leon Rushworth (@LeonRushworth1) May 16, 2018

So my last act of #EHW2018 was to record a piece for @HIMSS TV talking to @Anniecoops about her impact, her legacy and her future. 5 star answers in all 3 areas, absolute class act….don’t stay away too long Annie, we need your plain speaking wise counsel too much..!!

— Andy Kinnear (@Andy_Kinnear) May 16, 2018

@nhscio Will Smart presents @Anniecoops with fond farewell, stating "if you want something done in informatics, you need a nurse". Thanks Anne for all of your work to drive change and excellence in (e)nursing. Certain our nursing colleagues would all agree! #EHW2018 @NHSDigital pic.twitter.com/GzHfSScbYR

— Cerner UK (@CernerUK) May 16, 2018

In an email seen by Digital Health News, Wilkinson also revealed that Professor Martin Severs had approached her regarding his wish to move to a “part-time structure” so that he could “start to explore the joys of retirement”.

Prior to his appointment, Severs was a consultant geriatrician for 30 years, and a professor of healthcare for older people at the University of Portsmouth for 25 years.

Wilkinson confirmed that Severs will leave full-time employment on 13 July and will return to work part-time on a three-day-week basis from 28 August.

Severs has agreed to remain as NHS Digital’s chief medical officer and Caldicott guardian, and Wilkinson confirmed the organisation will begin advertising for a newly-created role of Head of Information Governance, which will be an executive director position.

Wilkinson confirmed that prior to Severs’ departure in July, interim cover for the chief medical officer and Caldicott guardian positions will be arranged.

In statement to Digital Health News, Wilkinson said: “Both Martin and Anne are enormous assets to our organisation with an invaluable range of expertise, experience and knowledge.

“Anne will shortly be stepping down to move onto the next stage of her career and I want to thank her for the incredible energy, drive and enthusiasm with which she has gone about her duties in her crucial role as our chief nurse.

“In addition to the advice she has imparted across a wide number of our work programmes, she has established herself as a leading voice in promoting innovation and digitisation across nursing, which I am sure she will continue from beyond NHS Digital, and hers will be big shoes to fill.”