Don Tomlinson, managing director of max20, a recruiter that specialises in the health sector, spoke to Computerworld UK and explained that Trusts are increasingly looking for CIOs and senior IT managers that don't necessarily have a background in the NHS.

"It really is changing. Ten ago, whenever we got a requirement, the candidate would have to have NHS experience. This just isn't the case anymore," said Tomlinson.

"The NHS is becoming more commercialised. Some organisations that are now funded by the NHS, you wouldn't know you were dealing with the public sector anymore. We recently placed a business development manager, who was chosen for her ability to go and open up doors in the private sector."

He added: "The major benefit of hiring people outside the NHS is that they come in with fresh ideas. I know this one lady in particular was able to come in and say how she would promote an Informatics service to non-NHS organisations. It's very much an expertise transfer."

Tomlinson said that traditional roles within the NHS, such as information specialists that are working with patient data, still require experience within the sector. However, project manager and business development manager roles are very much open to private sector candidates.