NHS England’s chief digital officer is stepping down from the role to join an online GP consultation provider.
LIVI confirmed to Digital Health News that Juliet Bauer will be joining the company in April 2019 to take up a global product role.
Bauer said: “I am delighted to be joining LIVI at such an exciting time for digital health.
“Technology has the power to deliver a step-change in clinical care and patient experience.
“I am looking forward to helping LIVI expand their outstanding service to deliver on the NHS’ long term plan, as well as supporting their growth globally”.
Bauer, who was NHS England’s first chief digital officer, has been a key figure in the ‘Empower the Person’ programme and has overseen a number of projects such as the NHS App and NHS 111 online.
Her new role at LIVI will involve working with health services across the world to support them in their transformation to a digital first approach to primary care.
Founded in Sweden in 2015, LIVI allows patients to access online consultations via their GP practice and has delivered over half a million consultations across Europe.
The service, which goes by the name KRY in Sweden, was launched in the UK in 2018 after partnering up with GP practices in North West Surrey and the North West of England.
Luke Buhl-Nielsen, country director of LIVI UK said: “We are incredibly excited to have Juliet join the LIVI team.
“Her unrivalled experience within NHS England and the wider Health and Social Care Digital Transformation program during a period of unprecedented change is invaluable as we work alongside the health service to deliver a digital vision for primary care and transform outcomes for patients everywhere”.
14 January 2019 @ 01:46
In order to support all these, at best, valueless digital games, healthcare is being downgraded across the board. Could we have a new government please?
12 January 2019 @ 16:35
As the LTP is published showing a greater need for tech talent and fresh energy, it is refreshing to see such self awareness to leave at this pinnacle moment creating room for a more qualified team. A bright future for Juliet and LIVI is almost certain 🙂
15 January 2019 @ 11:43
Bertl , King Canute springs to mind. Technology is not going away… embrace it and work with people to get it to work… or get left behind.
15 January 2019 @ 14:12
I am not against technology; I am against (a) sacrificing healthcare in the interests of the digital economy, and (b) dishonestly using technology to obtain unrestricted access to confidential personal data without consent, thus violating the legitimate information rights of NHS patients. The NHS is routinely contravening the GDPR/DPA 2018 and deliberately lying to us about what they are doing.
11 January 2019 @ 14:39
Livi strikes deal for UK NHS video consultations
https://www.ft.com/content/eac05b46-d3c2-11e8-a9f2-7574db66bcd5
Nothing to see here.
14 January 2019 @ 16:49
In all seriousness, the NHS Long Term Plan does have a notable emphasis on video consultations https://www.longtermplan.nhs.uk/online-version/
In chapter 1 section 1.44 a sentence is bolded:
“Over the next five years every patient in England will have a new right to choose this option (phone or online consultation) – usually from their own practice or, if they prefer, from one of the new digital GP providers” plus an image relating to this point.
Chapter 5 section 5.21 also bolds a similar message “… over the next five years, every patient will be able to access a GP digitally, and where appropriate, opt for a ‘virtual’ outpatient appointment.” again with an image on this point.
Given the LTP was published on 7-Jan and the NHS chief digital officer resigned a few days later to take up a senior post at a provider of GP video consultations, it does raise the question about the extent to which this relationship influenced the content of the LTP. The LTP directs a massive expansion of the market this provider would desire to see in the UK.
What other NHS services does the LTP specifically call out as planned to be supplied by ‘new … providers’?
15 January 2019 @ 15:37
That may be the case wherever you are. But I assure you that is NOT the case everywhere.
15 January 2019 @ 17:23
If your comment, Paul, is directed to me, and if what I say is not the case everywhere, I am very pleased to hear it. I suspect, however, that you are mistaken. I get around, and what I say is the case everywhere I have been; and I believe that it is NHS policy across the board. Try to challenge it and everyone becomes resolutely deaf.
16 January 2019 @ 10:01
Apparently I am mistaken and you know my experiences better than I do!
I think we are done here.