Dr Rod Jones has a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering; is a chartered management accountant and has completed the Hewlett Packard course in Total Quality Management. His career prior to the NHS covers 7 years in academia and 10 years in industry as a senior National Process Development Engineer for blue chip fmcg companies & as General Manager of an International Laboratory Proficiency Testing Service. He has over 15 years experience in healthcare both within the NHS and as an independent consultant covering both Acute and Community involving Information, Contracting, Commissioning, Performance Management & Service Planning. In 1995 a disease management study in gastrointestinal bleeding & ulcers won an international award within Glaxo plc. In 1996 he completed a review of bed requirements for the Royal Berkshire Hospital with the longer-term projections of bed requirements being validated in practice. The Trust eventually submitted a second business case in line with the original projections. During 2001/02 he was involved in the Hospital Operational Intelligence Project (HOIP) investigating best practice in the use of operational intelligence to match capacity with demand. He was Statistical Advisor to the Thames Valley Strategic Health Authority from its inception, has provided support to the Met Office Health Forecasting Unit and provides advice to the South Central Strategic Health Authority. His research has led to the development of many innovative and new methods for understanding the operational and financial challenges in healthcare. He is the author of hundreds of papers, articles & reports; is an invited speaker at national conferences and is a member of the editorial board of the British Journal of Healthcare Management.