Chris Whitehouse, a political consultant and expert on medical technology policy and regulation at Whitehouse Communications, an advisor to medtech suppliers, chair of the Urology Trade Association, and governor of the Anscombe Bioethics Centre, highlights the latest round of key appointments made by the Labour government.
UK Science Secretary Peter Kyle has commissioned an Action Plan to identify how AI can drive economic growth, and has appointed tech entrepreneur, Matt Clifford, to lead the work to explore untapped AI opportunities, including in the health and medtech sectors.
Kyle’s Department for Science, Innovation and Technology will also launch a new “AI Opportunities Unit” to “seize the benefits of AI”.
The Action Plan will also consider key enablers such as the UK’s compute and broader infrastructure requirements by 2030, how this infrastructure is made available for start-ups and scale-ups and how to develop and attract top AI talent in the public and private sector.
The announcement follows the Science Secretary making his first visit since being appointed to the role, where he recently met staff at the Government Digital Service (GDS) and Central Digital and Data Office (CDDO), who have now become part of the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology.
And in 10 Downing Street, Ninjeri Pandit, formerly health and social care lead, is now Director of the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit, having previously been director of Simon Steven’s Office while he was NHS England Chief Executive, the latter having also previously been a Number 10 Policy Advisor to Prime Minister Tony Blair.
Tahira Khan takes the health and social care lead role in the Policy Unit as part of a team that will be headed by lead Special Advisor Tom Webb, who served previously as Labour Director of Policy and Research under Sir Keir Starmer as Leader of the Opposition.
The new appointments follow previous announcements that Lord Darzi and Professor Paul Corrigan, along with Sally Warren, formerly of the Kings Fund health think tank were adding to a team with breadth and depth of experience, and enjoying the political trust of both the Prime Minister Starmer and Health Secretary Wes Streeting, to develop a new NHS 10 Year Plan to be published in the New Year.
Comments upon or questions about this article can be addressed to chris.whitehouse@whitehousecomms.com