Professor Michael Thick has been appointed as Connecting for Health’s first chief clinical officer.
The new chief clinical officer, who takes up his post with immediate effect, will be responsible for clinical governance and risk and safety management, and according to the agency will be "key to engaging stakeholders in the work of NHS CfH." He will also take charge of formal supervision of the clinicians employed within CfH.
Professor Thick was medical director of Choose and Book and PACS at Connecting for Health, and a senior advisor to the National Programme for IT.
Chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson, said: "The work of NHS Connecting for Health is critical to improving patient safety and the quality of care. The appointment of a chief clinical officer reinforces its importance and in Professor Thick NHS CfH has an eminent surgeon with a strong track record as a clinician and as a clinical director with a strong interest in information technology."
A spokesperson from CfH was unable to confirm whether Professor Thick would continue in his existing roles, saying: "The arrangements for PACS and Choose and Book are currently under consideration, but it must be remembered that Mark Davies is still primary care director for Choose and Book."
Professor Thick commented: "The national programme has delivered much already but we are now on the brink of implementing the NHS Care Records Service which has the power to bring about profound benefit for patients’ care and safety. It will be a privilege to take up this role and play a central part in that and the wider work of the agency."
The new CCO’s previous career featured a secondment to the NHS Information Authority as an advisor on clinical governance and has also worked at the NHS Modernisation Agency.
His clinical background is in renal care, with previous posts held at St Mary’s Hospital, Paddington, as director of liver transplantation and director of medical and surgical liver services at the Freeman Hospital, Newcastle upon Tyne.