Appointment of new AHSN Deputy CEO

Wessex Academic Health Science Network (AHSN) has appointed a new Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Innovation Adoption.

Nicola Bent will be joining the AHSN in April from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), where she has been Deputy Director of Health and Social Care and Programme Director for System Engagement since 2016.

Nicola is a registered pharmacist, who has over 20 years’ experience in health and social care, working in senior roles at national, regional and local level on implementation, quality improvement, strategy and transformational change, medicines optimisation and patient safety, and cross sector partnership working.

Currently Nicola leads on the NICE implementation strategy and is also responsible for the NICE Field team, who support health and care sector teams to adopt evidence-based practice and innovative approaches to care at a local level.

Nicola is passionate about improving outcomes for people, and this is demonstrated by her strong track record of securing the adoption of clinically and cost-effective innovations to drive up standards of care.

Speaking about her appointment, Nicola said: “I am absolutely delighted to be joining the Wessex AHSN as Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Innovation Adoption.

“The work of the AHSN across Wessex is essential in supporting the spread of innovation and improvement at both a local and national level. I am looking forward to building upon the current successes and being part of a team that is having such a positive impact on the delivery of care for the NHS, the public and industry in the region.

“I am passionate about putting people who use services and their families at the heart of everything we do. I believe that the work of the AHSN across health and social care services, industry and academia to drive the adoption of innovation and improvement into the NHS, will result in better patient experiences, clinical outcomes, and stimulate wealth creation.

“I’m looking forward to working with partners to support the delivery of an exciting and challenging agenda from our local members and national commissioners.”

Bill Gillespie, Chief Executive of Wessex AHSN, said: “Having Nicola on-board at the AHSN is a great next step in our organisation’s evolution. Nicola brings a wealth of health care innovation experience with her, and I believe she will be a major force for supporting the adoption of innovation into the Wessex healthcare landscape.

“I would also like to pay tribute to Dave Meehan’s fantastic contribution to the AHSN in his deputy role over the past four years. Dave will be continuing to work within the AHSN focusing on his finance director role.”