Minister for Health Sussan Ley has announced Tim Kelsey will head up the newly formed Agency, which oversees Australia’s e-health services and systems.

It’s a role with which he should be familiar, having served as the first National Director for Patients and Information for England’s National Health Service. 

He was also the first chair of the National Information Board which masterminded the design of a new digital health strategy for the NHS.

One of his first tasks in the job will be to take control of the Government’s struggling My Health Record System, the online system that lets patients’ information be shared with doctors, hospitals and health care providers with their permission.

Mr Kelsey, who has only been in Australia since February as the Strategy and Commercial Director for Telstra Health, will take up the position in mid-August.