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Chris Whitty begins role as England’s Chief Medical Officer

Published on: 2 Oct 2019

London consultant and public health professor, Chris Whitty, has begun his role as England’s Chief Medical Officer, taking over from Dame Sally Davies, who has now stepped down from the position.

Whitty has served as the Department of Health and Social Care’s Chief Scientific Adviser since 2016 and was announced as Dame Sally Davies successor earlier in June this year.

At the time in a statement, Whitty said: “It is a huge honour to be given the opportunity as chief medical officer for England to be able to support colleagues in public health, the NHS and social care around the country to improve the health of the nation.”

Health and Social Care Secretary Matt Hancock added: “Professor Chris Whitty will make an excellent Chief Medical Officer, bringing his extensive clinical experience and a passion for keeping the nation healthy.

“I can think of no better person to lead the fight against infectious diseases, public health threats, and lead the medical profession to continue keeping us as healthy as possible.”

Whitty joined the civil service in 2009 and was appointed following an open recruitment competition. He is also an acute medicine and infectious diseases consultant at University College London Hospitals Foundation Trust and professor of public and international health at the nearby London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.

When the appointment was announced in June Sir Chris Wormald, DHSC Permanent Secretary, added: “I am delighted that Chris Whitty has been appointed as the chief medical officer for England. He is doing an excellent job as chief scientific adviser and will bring to his new role a wealth of relevant experience from his previous roles in public health.”