System C named Dr Rick Jones winner of the Healthcare IT Champion of the Year award at a ceremony in London last night.

Dr Rick Jones was the former specialist advisor to NHS England’s National Pathology Programme, and a consultant at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust. Sadly, Dr Jones passed away after he was nominated for the Healthcare IT Champion award; but his friends and family asked for his name to go forward, and were present at London’s Roundhouse to hear that he had been voted the winner.

The prestigious award was set up by e-Health Insider magazine to recognise individuals for outstanding achievements promoting healthcare IT. Unlike the other annual EHI Awards, the Healthcare IT Champion is decided by a popular vote. “This award is all about winning well-deserved recognition from peers and colleagues”, said Markus Bolton, chief executive of System C after presenting Dr Jones’ wife with the award. “It is a pleasure to see Dr Jones’ achievements in healthcare honoured in this way.”

Dr Jones was selected from 20 individuals nominated by EHI readers. A first-round of voting reduced this to a shortlist of six.