Remembering our colleague, Andrew Chiu
We are shocked and saddened to learn about the sudden and untimely passing of our digitising social care colleague Andrew Chiu.
Andrew joined NHS England in March 2021 to work on the digitising social care (DiSC) programme, which was still in an embryonic stage. A qualified social worker he brought sector experience and insight to his role both within our programme and across data project teams at the Department of Health and Social Care.
When his mother was diagnosed with dementia, he reduced his hours in order to care for her. He often shared insights of this part of his life which so clearly drove his understanding of the benefits of digital transformation for adult social care.
Many colleagues may not be aware that alongside his professional and caring roles Andrew was also a hugely talented artist and professional illustrator undertaking numerous commissions for high-profile clients including the BBC, DC comics and the New Internationalist. He’d recently begun to take on commissioned work again as his mother was settled in a residential care home.
Andrew was instrumental in driving our work to deliver the first draft of the Adult Social Care Reporting Minimum Data Specification (RMDS) for Digital Social Care Records (DSCRs). Prior to joining NHS England, Andrew worked at the Care Quality Commission (CQC) and his time there included a secondment to the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to work on the Covid-19 response. He continued to play a pivotal role in supporting our engagement and data reporting work with the CQC in his role on the DiSC programme.
Across our team and the wider adult social care network colleagues have consistently reflected on Andrew’s kindness and his willingness to help and support others. He was passionate about equality and social care and was always one of the first to reach out when a colleague needed help.
We are in shock at his tragic and untimely death, but this is nothing compared to the grief and loss that his family are experiencing at this time. Our thoughts are with his sister Rachel, brother-in-law John and their three children as well as his beloved mother, Yu Ning.
Our collective shock and sorrow at his passing are a reflection of the high regard in which he was held by the digitising social care team. We will miss him enormously and will continue to honour his memory through our work.
Although he was only 54 when he died, Andrew lived a full and varied life, supporting many causes that were close to his heart (including Manchester United football club). We have set up an online memorial page for Andrew’s colleagues to share their tributes and memories and we will be shortly adding in links to charities he supported for those who wish to make a donation in his memory.