Christian's nostalgic return
Published on 06/06/2025
After 30 years away, Christian Smith has returned to University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust (UHB) in a homecoming that feels both nostalgic and full of promise. Now serving as Chief Nursing Information Officer (CNIO), Christian brings a wealth of experience from his time in Wales, where he played a key role in digital transformation within the NHS.
Christian’s journey into nursing informatics was not a predetermined path, but rather one he said he ‘fell into’. He has played a pivotal role in developing a bespoke nursing documentation system in Wales, working alongside a diverse multidisciplinary team. He later completed the NHS Digital Health Leadership Programme and an MSc in Digital Leadership at Imperial College London.
He first trained as a nurse at Queen Elizabeth School of Nursing. His passion for oncology nursing was sparked during his elective placement at UHB's N3b oncology ward. Although his career took him to Cardiff, where he worked in emergency medicine and later at a tertiary cancer centre, Birmingham remained an important part of his journey.
Christian is surprised at how deeply connected he still feels to UHB. Christian said: "The landmarks and people have brought back so many happy memories from my training
and working in Birmingham. Although I've only been here a short time, I already feel very welcome—it’s as if I have been working here for a while."
Christian is eager to tackle the evolving challenges in nursing informatics. He believes that where technology offers remarkable advantages, it should always support and enhance patient care, rather than overshadow direct interactions. AI and machine learning, he explains, have the potential to improve workflows by assisting nurses in transforming data into actionable insights. However, he stressed that clinical expertise, intuition, and human connection must remain central to patient care.
Among the initiatives he is most passionate about is the continued development of patient centred records, shifting from healthcare institutions owning records to a shared model that empowers patients to take an active role in their healthcare. Christian is keen to ensure inclusivity, recognising that not all patients have the same digital access or literacy.
