Health and Social Care Information Centre becomes NHS Digital

The government has announced that the Health and Social Care Information Centre will be known as NHS Digital from July 2016.

As the national provider of information, data and IT systems for commissioners, analysts and clinicians in health and social care, the centre is playing an increasingly large role in the way the NHS is run.

The rebranding is intended to help to build public recognition, confidence and trust in the organisation, with Noel Gordon – the current non-executive director and chair of the Specialised Services Commissioning Committee at NHS England – named as its new chair.

Mr Gordon has spent most of his career in consultancy and can boast experience of innovating and transforming industries, as well as expertise in relevant fields such as big data, analytics, mobile and digital technologies.

George Freeman, minister for life sciences, said: "Healthcare in the 21st century is going digital with improved treatment and care, and with huge benefits for patient safety. The newly named NHS Digital will provide important information and IT services to ensure better care for patients."

NHS Digital will publish more than 260 statistical publications per year, as well as offering a range of specialist data services, managing informatics projects and programmes, and developing national systems.