Former chief executive of the Association of Independent Healthcare Organisations (AIHO), Fiona Booth, has been appointed head of provider programmes and strategy at electronic billing company Healthcode.

In her new role, Booth (pictured) will oversee the launch and development of Healthcode’s private practice register (PPR), which the company has built for practitioners in the private healthcare sector, with the aim of enhancing efficiency and cooperation between private medical insurers (PMIs), providers and individual practitioners.

Booth said: “The PPR is an exciting and significant initiative for everyone in the private healthcare sector at a time when we need to show that we are learning lessons from the Paterson scandal. A national inquiry headed by the Bishop of Norwich is due to report next summer, but it is likely to consider the systems in place for validating and monitoring hospital staff. The PPR directly addresses the challenge of governance and demonstrates how seriously the sector takes patient safety.”

Healthcode managing director Peter Connor added: “Fiona brings unrivalled knowledge of the independent healthcare sector and is a well-known and respected figure within the industry following her work at the trade association, AIHO. This means she is perfectly placed to collaborate with hospital groups, PMIs, industry leaders and consultants to ensure Healthcode’s provider programme fulfils its potential as a game-changer for the industry.”