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| Cameron adviser leaves controversial NHS data scheme for private sector | Cameron adviser leaves controversial NHS data scheme for private sector |
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| One of David Cameron’s top advisers on technology, Tim Kelsey, has resigned from the NHS to take up a job with the health data division of Australia’s largest telecommunications company. | One of David Cameron’s top advisers on technology, Tim Kelsey, has resigned from the NHS to take up a job with the health data division of Australia’s largest telecommunications company. |
| Related: NHS patient data plans unachievable, review finds | Related: NHS patient data plans unachievable, review finds |
| A controversial figure who led the error-strewn care.data programme, which aimed to create a single database of all English patients’ medical records, Kelsey will leave his role as NHS England’s national director for patients and information in December. | A controversial figure who led the error-strewn care.data programme, which aimed to create a single database of all English patients’ medical records, Kelsey will leave his role as NHS England’s national director for patients and information in December. |
| News of Kelsey’s departure comes on the day that board papers released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), a centralised repository of NHS data, revealed that it had made key objections about care.data in mid July. | News of Kelsey’s departure comes on the day that board papers released by the Health and Social Care Information Centre (HSCIC), a centralised repository of NHS data, revealed that it had made key objections about care.data in mid July. |
| However a week later Kelsey wrote to MPs on the health select committee to say that the HSCIC board had “reviewed” the project but did not say they had sought to amend the scheme. | However a week later Kelsey wrote to MPs on the health select committee to say that the HSCIC board had “reviewed” the project but did not say they had sought to amend the scheme. |
| A spokesperson for NHS England said the scheme was still being evaluated and once this process was complete all the objections raised would be taken into account. “The board raised some issues as noted in their public minutes and these will be addressed.” | A spokesperson for NHS England said the scheme was still being evaluated and once this process was complete all the objections raised would be taken into account. “The board raised some issues as noted in their public minutes and these will be addressed.” |
| Kelsey was appointed to the Cabinet Office by Cameron in 2012 as the UK’s first transparency and open data director. However a few months later he joined the NHS, where he was the driving force behind care.data. | Kelsey was appointed to the Cabinet Office by Cameron in 2012 as the UK’s first transparency and open data director. However a few months later he joined the NHS, where he was the driving force behind care.data. |
| The programme was supposed to be in place in 8,000 GP practices by 2014 but has been beset by controversies since its launch last year. It was finally paused after a series of blunders exposed serious issues relating to the confidentiality of patient information. The scheme was recently labelled “unachievable” by a Whitehall watchdog, the Major Projects Authority, which said the future of the programme should be reassessed. | The programme was supposed to be in place in 8,000 GP practices by 2014 but has been beset by controversies since its launch last year. It was finally paused after a series of blunders exposed serious issues relating to the confidentiality of patient information. The scheme was recently labelled “unachievable” by a Whitehall watchdog, the Major Projects Authority, which said the future of the programme should be reassessed. |
| The planned restart this summer has not materialised and an estimated one million people have opted out pre-emptively. In September Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, asked Dame Fiona Caldicott, the national data guardian, to provide advice on the wording for a new model of patient consent and opt-outs – a move widely seen as a snub to Kelsey. | The planned restart this summer has not materialised and an estimated one million people have opted out pre-emptively. In September Jeremy Hunt, the health secretary, asked Dame Fiona Caldicott, the national data guardian, to provide advice on the wording for a new model of patient consent and opt-outs – a move widely seen as a snub to Kelsey. |
| Kelsey, a former Sunday Times journalist, made his name when the Department of Health invested £12m in Dr Foster Intelligence in 2006, a joint venture with the UK-based health informatics company he had co-founded. | Kelsey, a former Sunday Times journalist, made his name when the Department of Health invested £12m in Dr Foster Intelligence in 2006, a joint venture with the UK-based health informatics company he had co-founded. |
| A year later MPs on the Public Accounts Committee released a highly critical report on the deal questioning why a joint-venture with a company valued at between £10m and £15m received so much public cash. Dr Foster Intelligence says it provides analytics services to 85% of UK hospitals. | A year later MPs on the Public Accounts Committee released a highly critical report on the deal questioning why a joint-venture with a company valued at between £10m and £15m received so much public cash. Dr Foster Intelligence says it provides analytics services to 85% of UK hospitals. |
| His new role is commercial director at Telstra Health, the healthcare arm of Australia-based telecommunications company Telstra. Telstra Health bought Kelsey’s former company Dr Foster earlier this year. | |
| In 2006 Kelsey was appointed by the NHS to set up the health service’s information website NHS Choices. Kelsey became influential in government for his championing the “database state” arguing that “a better public sector … must encourage more use of personal data; not less”. | In 2006 Kelsey was appointed by the NHS to set up the health service’s information website NHS Choices. Kelsey became influential in government for his championing the “database state” arguing that “a better public sector … must encourage more use of personal data; not less”. |
| His willingness to take on civil liberty arguments caught the ear of David Cameron and Kelsey initially had plans to become a Tory MP. However the former journalist was put off by the impact parliament would have had on his family life. Instead he became one of the PM’s advisers on data, working with fellow Tory moderniser Steve Hilton to make the government more transparent. | His willingness to take on civil liberty arguments caught the ear of David Cameron and Kelsey initially had plans to become a Tory MP. However the former journalist was put off by the impact parliament would have had on his family life. Instead he became one of the PM’s advisers on data, working with fellow Tory moderniser Steve Hilton to make the government more transparent. |
| Announcing his resignation from the NHS, Kelsey said: “It has been an enormous privilege to work with such talented and committed colleagues at NHS England and across the wider health and care service. Together we have made the case for a digitally enabled NHS in which patients are encouraged to participate. Over the last three years we have made significant progress on turning that aspiration into reality.” | Announcing his resignation from the NHS, Kelsey said: “It has been an enormous privilege to work with such talented and committed colleagues at NHS England and across the wider health and care service. Together we have made the case for a digitally enabled NHS in which patients are encouraged to participate. Over the last three years we have made significant progress on turning that aspiration into reality.” |
| Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England said: “Over the past three years Tim has brought his infectious energy and creative expertise to the vital drive for open, transparent and technology-enabled health services. It’s no surprise that other countries now want to emulate that success, so as the NHS moves into the implementation phase of the strategy Tim has helped craft. We wish him every success as he shifts gear to working in Australia and internationally.” | Simon Stevens, the chief executive of NHS England said: “Over the past three years Tim has brought his infectious energy and creative expertise to the vital drive for open, transparent and technology-enabled health services. It’s no surprise that other countries now want to emulate that success, so as the NHS moves into the implementation phase of the strategy Tim has helped craft. We wish him every success as he shifts gear to working in Australia and internationally.” |