Helen Thomas became the CEO of Digital Health and Care Wales in May 2021 and is focused on leading the adoption of national digital and data servcies to connect and transform services for healthcare staff and patients.

Previously, Helen was the Interim Director of the NHS Wales Informatics Service, where she led the organisation’s impressive response to the Covid-19 pandemic and the transition to Digital Health and Care Wales, a new Special Health Authority formed on 1 April 2021.

Over 30 years with NHS Wales Helen has served in several senior roles including Director of Information for the NHS Wales Informatics Service, where she was instrumental in supporting the improved quality and use of data in healthcare and the development of the new National Data Resource; and as Assistant Director of Information at Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board, with responsibility for setting the strategic direction for data and digital and providing the information needed to evaluate service delivery and to support service improvement and transformation. 

Helen has an MSc in Health Informatics from Swansea University and is a leading practitioner of the Federation of Informatics Professionals, a fellow of the British Computer Society and a Professor of Practice at University of Wales Trinity St David. 

In October 2021 she was voted Digital CEO of the Year at the prestigious UK Digital Health Awards, for her outstanding contribution to NHS healthcare IT.

Helen is an advocate of compassionate leadership and is passionate about the difference digital, data and technology can and is making to improve outcomes and make health and care better for the people of Wales.