Alison Austin is Personalisation and Control Lead in NHS England. Working in the Patient and Information Directorate, her role focuses on making patient (and carer) participation in decisions about their care a reality across the NHS. Helping to change the relationships between individuals and the health professionals that support them, through shared decision making and support for self-management, personalised care planning and personal health budgets.
Prior to this, she headed up the Department of Health’s Personal Health Budgets Team– developing the policy and overseeing the pilot programme. She has worked on health or medical related issues in a number of Government Departments including Department of Health; Medical Devices Agency; Department of Innovation, Universities and Skills; and the Treasury. She is a qualified nurse with 13 years experience working in the NHS and has a degree in molecular biology and a PhD in molecular biochemistry.
