British Telecommunications' activities in the National Health Service's national programme for IT (NPfIT), will progress under new leadership beginning summer 2007, the company has announced in a press release.

BT Health, the primary contractor of NPfIT, has named Sir Jonathan Michael its deputy managing director, healthcare. Michael, a physician who currently serves as chief executive of Guy's and St. Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, will play a major role in BT's delivery of IT services in the NHS.

"Throughout my career... I have recognised the pivotal role that IT plays in the delivery of high quality health care," Michael said. "Effective IT lies at the very heart of our ability to deliver the best possible services to patients quickly and efficiently.

Michael said he is looking forward to playing a significant part in "providing IT services which will enable clinicians and healthcare managers to rise to the challenges ahead."

Officials at BT Health are optimistic about bringing Michael into their operations. "These are exciting times for BT and the NHS national programme for IT and we are making good progress on our deployments," said Patrick O'Connell, BT Health's managing director.