In April 2014, Kelsey was appointed National Information Director in health and care and chair of the National Information Board by the Department of Health in addition to his role at NHS England. The National Information Board brings together all national health and care bodies, together with local government, clinical leaders and civil society members to set data and technology priorities in health and care and advise the Department and Secretary of State accordingly. It also advises the secretary of state on the quality of data transparency in the NHS. In October 2014 the Five Year Forward View stated that 'harnessing the information revolution' was a key priority for improved quality and cost effectiveness in the NHS. It identified the NIB as the body responsible for leading transformation in digital services for patients, citizens and professionals - including full real time interoperability of patient records by 2020. In November 2014, the NIB published Personalised Health and Care 2020: A Framework for Action which detailed these information priorities. The proposals - which were published as formal government policy after Cabinet clearance - include providing patients with comprehensive access to all their medical records by 2018 and the ability to 'write into' them, establishing an NHS endorsement scheme for third party digital services and apps, giving citizens access to new online digital health services, and mandating safe digital record keeping - including patient and drug barcoding - in all NHS providers. The Times reported: 'Patients will be able to view test results and book appointments online under "radical" plans to make accessing the NHS as simple as online banking.'
