New medical director for Healthcare UK

Healthcare UK has appointed Prof Rory Shaw as medical director, supporting the organisation's efforts to sell NHS expertise across the world.

As part of his new role, Prof Shaw will lead the newly established NHS International Development Team set up to strengthen ties between the NHS and foreign governments and healthcare providers as part of the work of Healthcare UK, which was set up at the beginning of 2013.

Prof Shaw has been an NHS medical director for more than 15 years, latterly at North West London Hospitals Trust, and previously at Royal Berkshire Foundation Trust and Hammersmith Hospitals Trust.

A consultant respiratory physician, he has also held a non-executive role within the NHS Litigation Authority, and was the first chairman of the National Patient Safety Agency.

Trade minister Lord Green said that Shaw's appointment “will help bring [NHS] expertise to high-value markets abroad, safeguarding jobs at home and widening access to vital health services abroad”.

Shaw said: “I am very excited to be part of the team at Healthcare UK which will help the NHS configure what it can offer in a way that supports the plans of overseas regional and national governments as well as those investing in emerging countries.”

He will report to Healthcare UK's managing director Howard Lyons.