New NHS IT chiefs announced

Former director general role separated

The NHS has appointed two new IT leaders

The Department of Health has announced two new members of senior management for the £12.7bn National Programme for IT, splitting former director general Richard Granger's job in two.

Christine Connelly will be the first chief information officer (CIO) for health and will focus on developing and delivering the department's overall information strategy.

Reporting to her will be Martin Bellamy, the director of programme and system delivery. He will lead NHS Connecting for Health and focus on enhancing partnerships with the NHS.

The separate roles were established as a result of the Health Informatics Review.

NHS chief executive, David Nicholson said: "The creation of these two roles enhances both the strategic management of information in the health and social care system, and the delivery of NHS Connecting for Health."

Bellamy previously worked for the Department for Work and Pensions and has been CIO of the pension service, while Connelly was CIO at Cadbury Schweppes.