BIVDA is delighted to announce the appointment of David Thorne as BIVDA’s Head of NHS Policy from 1st December 2025.
David will be part of the BIVDA Senior Leadership Team, working with Beth Loudon, Angela Douglas and Professor Mike Messenger to promote and improve the uptake of diagnostics and innovation across the NHS. He will support members to navigate the NHS environment through the delivery of the NHS 10-Year Plan and Life Sciences Sector Plan.
Having worked alongside BIVDA for many years, David’s official appointment will enable the continued delivery of key programmes and develop greater opportunities for increased and better use of diagnostics in the community and hospitals, through his vast experience and networks within the NHS.
David is employed part-time as the Transformation Director of Well Up North Primary Care Network, covering north Northumberland and its 63,000 patients. Well Up North stands out as a leading example of advanced Neighbourhood and integrated working. His work is focused on Northumberland’s role as a leading development site for Advanced Foundation Trust and Integrated Healthcare Organisation working. Diagnostic services transformation is a key element of these innovations.
Originally a nurse, David has since taken on leadership positions across various NHS sectors, including hospital, community, primary care, and commissioning organisations. He has served as both Chair and CEO for several primary care alliances, received recognition as a CCG Manager of the Year, and acted as programme director for major transformation initiatives.
His NHS work has been heavily influenced by diagnostic innovations and point of care testing, resulting in close collaborations with BIVDA and our member companies. David has been a leading voice in emphasising the pivotal role of diagnostics in service improvement and has carried this message as a regular speaker at major diagnostics events.
David also has three decades’ experience in UK market access both in field-based and head office roles, and as a prominent consultant, where he provided guidance to around 300 companies. He leads Health Policy Explained Limited, offering NHS policy insights and related services. In addition, David is a charity Trustee of Hospice Care North Northumberland.
In his new role, David will support BIVDA members through applied policy analysis. He will draw upon his unique perspectives gained from decades within the NHS, in part of the health system currently undergoing the most dynamic change, to deliver advice that is authentic, tailored and applicable. Through his extensive network, David will also seek to include other subject matter experts.
A central aim of David’s work will be to identify selected NHS organisations capable of true collaborative working to deliver innovation uptake through active research, co-design and managed introduction.
David adds: “I am delighted to be invited to this role and keen to work as a champion for BIVDA members’ interests. Diagnostics is the pivotal aspect of health services transformation but its power as a catalyst and enabler is too often turned to frustration. That needs to change through much wider recognition of the power of diagnostics.”