British Cycling can today make the landmark announcement that Dr Nigel Jones has been appointed as the organisation’s first Chief Medical Officer, with oversight of medical services and guidance for both the Great Britain Cycling Team and the wider work of the governing body.
Dr Jones was appointed as Head of Medical Services for the Great Britain Cycling Team in August 2017, having previously worked for the Rugby Football Union and Liverpool FC. In the role he has been instrumental in developing the organisation’s governance, policies and protocols for concussion and cardiac screening, medical record keeping and medicines management, and mental health and wellbeing.
Most recently, in October 2020 the Great Britain Cycling Team successfully secured Care Quality Commission (CQC) status. This provided official recognition that the medical services team operates in a regulated environment to provide riders with safe, effective, compassionate and high-quality care – and established the organisation as one of the first professional sport medical facilities to achieve CQC status.
In his new, widened role he will now also drive changes to medical guidance and strategy for the wider organisation, covering grassroots cycle-sport, risk management, Covid-19 guidance, occupational health, and collaboration with stakeholders including the UCI, UKAD, DCMS and other national governing bodies.
Over the coming months Dr Jones will continue work to develop British Cycling’s First Aid policy and provide concussion guidance for grassroots racing and non-racing environments, further enhancing the safety standards of sanctioned activities as they return following the national lockdown.
To support this work, the organisation will also begin recruitment for a part-time Medical Officer with a sole focus on the community aspects of this work.
British Cycling Chief Executive, Brian Facer, said:
“Since joining the organisation in 2017, Dr Nigel Jones has overseen truly transformational changes in the governance and provision of medical services for the Great Britain Cycling Team, putting us at the very forefront of our sector.
“Securing CQC status for the medical services provided to riders competing for our country was a significant achievement by Dr Jones and his team and means we are truly living up to a duty of care we have for our riders. That duty of care requires us to not only give them the medical support they need, but also requires us to be able to demonstrate that, when they compete, they are doing so in the right way.
“I’m thrilled that the sport as a whole will now benefit from his counsel and expertise, particularly as we once again begin to navigate the challenges of safely resuming activity and events through the rest of the year. This move is part of much wider work which will continue as British Cycling fulfils its ambition to lead the way in terms of good governance for cycling and the wider sport sector.”
British Cycling Chief Medical Officer, Dr Nigel Jones, said:
“I’m delighted to take on this new role as British Cycling’s first Chief Medical Officer, providing dedicated support to the Board and Executive Leadership Team and giving confidence to our volunteers and the cycling workforce as they support a safe return to grassroots activities and events.
“A key part of this broadened role will be how we upskill and educate all those involved in our sport to minimise risk and make existing resources both engaging and relevant for their roles. I’m looking forward to working closely alongside colleagues from across British Cycling to further enhance the support and provision we currently offer, learning from the wider sector and ensuring that we are well prepared to meet the challenges of the future.
“I’m incredibly proud of what we have achieved in developing the Great Britain Cycling Team’s medical provision and strategy over recent years, and I look forward to continuing that work with the staff and riders as we head towards Tokyo and beyond.”
