Senior leaders join new Integrated Health and Care Advisory Board

The Access Group has established an integrated health and care advisory board, with three senior NHS leaders the first to join the group.

The board has been formed as part of The Access Group’s continued efforts to help NHS and social care organisations deliver productivity savings and improved outcomes, and to meet the government’s three big shifts in integrated health and care.

Dr Harpreet Sood, Professor Joe McDonald and Dr Rowan Sil are the first to join the group, which launched in February 2025.

Steve Wightman, general manager, health and integrated care at Access HSC, said: “The unprecedented challenges in the sector are well known, as are the benefits that digital can deliver to tackle these issues, to a point.

“However, it isn’t always possible for organisations to capitalise on technology and datasets across the care continuum, despite, in some cases, having the right solutions that can integrate across settings.

“With Harpreet, Joe and Rowan’s significant expertise, we’re excited by the prospect of improving our solutions and excelling our collaborations with local providers, regional commissioners, and local and central government.”

Sood, a practicing GP and former associate chief clinical information officer (CCIO) at NHS England and senior fellow to the chief executive of NHSE, will utilise his policy, technology and frontline experience to help Access engage with officials, clinicians and partners.

McDonald, a psychiatrist for Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Trust for 30 years and former national clinical lead for IT and chair of Digital Health’s CCIO Network, will be working with the company’s electronic patient record (EPR) community as they implement the next generation of Rio software and new features, such as AI-powered clinical dictation.

“Mental health has long been a poorer cousin to physical health in the NHS. However, if we are going to truly put the ‘I’ into the integrated care systems, these services need to be advocated and supported more.

“I couldn’t think of a better place to do that than with Access HSC and their Rio community. I’m delighted to be joining the board and bringing my ‘career limiting frankness’ to an organisation that has a culture healthy enough to embrace these discussions,” McDonald said.

Sil, a GP and CCIO for Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Integrated Care Board (ICB), will be involved in the company’s plans to maximise the millions of datasets it holds in support of the government’s ambitions to breakdown silos and securely connect data at a system-level with a particular focus on championing ICBs to utilise this information to improve patient safety.

The advisory board will hold its first meeting at Digital Health Rewired 2025, which takes place 18-19 March at the NEC in Birmingham.

The Access Group is a co-headline sponsor of the event and sponsor of the Integrated Care Stage.

Rewired 2025 is free for those in the NHS and public sector. Private sector tickets are available from £495 +VAT. Register now and book your accommodation early to secure the best rates. Register here.