Alan Langlands
Encyclopedia
Sir Robert Alan Langlands FRSE
FRCP (Hon.)
FRCGP (Hon.)
FRCS (Edin.) (Hon.)
FRCPSG (Hon.)
FFPH FIA
is notable for his service as chief executive of the National Health Service
executive in England
(1994–2000) and, more recently, as principal and vice chancellor of the University of Dundee
(2001–2009).
) attended Allan Glen's School
in Glasgow and graduated with an ordinary degree in biological science from the University of Glasgow
in 1974.
He became General Manager of North West Thames Regional Health Authority in 1991. Between 1994 and 2000 he served as the chief executive of the NHS executive in England
where he was the Secretary of State
’s principal policy adviser for the NHS. He was known as a formidably hard worker. In 1998 he received a Knighthood in the Queen's birthday honours list for his services to the NHS.
Langlands was chief executive of the NHS in England during a period of rapid change. His six years at the top, from 1994 to 2000, spanned the election of the new Labour government and included the Bristol inquiry, the rise of concern about healthcare-acquired infections and pressure for changes in working practices in the NHS. He also oversaw the setting up of bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
and the Commission for Health Improvement
, which drove improvement and consistency across the NHS.
following the retirement of Ian James Graham-Bryce. During this time, Sir Alan was also appointed Chairman of UK Biobank
, a joint venture set up by the Wellcome Trust
and the Medical Research Council
to oversee one of the world’s largest genetic epidemiology studies, and a Non-Executive Director of the Office for the Strategic Coordination of Health Research and the UK Statistics Authority
. He is a Trustee of The Nuffield Trust
and Chairman-designate of the Health Foundation.
In November 2008, Sir Alan announced his intention to stand down from his position as Principal at the University of Dundee in March 2009.
, replacing Professor David Eastwood
.
and in April 2001 he was awarded an honorary fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners
for his contribution to the general medical field for his work with the NHS. He is an honorary professor at the University of Warwick
business school and the US Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins University
Bioethics Institute. He has also received honorary fellowships by the Royal College of Physicians
(London), the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow), the Faculty of Public Health Medicine and the Institute of Actuaries
. He holds a diploma of the Institute of Healthcare Management.
He also holds membership of the Health Advisory Board at INSEAD
, the External Advisory Board of the Royal College of Physicians and the National Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins University Bioethics Institute.
He has also been awarded the HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother Fellowship by the Nuffield Trust
.
Royal Society of Edinburgh
The Royal Society of Edinburgh is Scotland's national academy of science and letters. It is a registered charity, operating on a wholly independent and non-party-political basis and providing public benefit throughout Scotland...
FRCP (Hon.)
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
FRCGP (Hon.)
Royal College of General Practitioners
The Royal College of General Practitioners is the professional body for general practitioners in the United Kingdom. The RCGP represents and supports GPs on key issues including licensing, education, training, research and clinical standards. It is the largest of the medical royal colleges, with...
FRCS (Edin.) (Hon.)
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical practice, through its interest in education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical workforce...
FRCPSG (Hon.)
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
The Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow, is an institute of physicians and surgeons in Glasgow, Scotland.Founded by Peter Lowe after receiving a royal charter by James VI in 1599, as the Glasgow Faculty, this institution originally existed as a regulatory authority to ensure that...
FFPH FIA
Institute of Actuaries
The Institute of Actuaries was one of the two professional which represented actuaries in the United Kingdom . The Institute was based in England, while the other body, the Faculty of Actuaries, was based in Scotland...
is notable for his service as chief executive of the National Health Service
National Health Service (England)
The National Health Service or NHS is the publicly funded healthcare system in England. It is both the largest and oldest single-payer healthcare system in the world. It is able to function in the way that it does because it is primarily funded through the general taxation system, similar to how...
executive in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
(1994–2000) and, more recently, as principal and vice chancellor of the University of Dundee
University of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
(2001–2009).
Early career
Robert Alan Langlands (born 29 May 1952, GlasgowGlasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
) attended Allan Glen's School
Allan Glen's School
Allan Glen's School was for most of its existence a selective fee-paying independent secondary school for boys in Glasgow, Scotland. It was founded by the Allan Glen's Endowment Scholarship Trust on the death in 1850 of Allan Glen, a successful Glasgow tradesman and businessman, "to give a good...
in Glasgow and graduated with an ordinary degree in biological science from the University of Glasgow
University of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
in 1974.
He became General Manager of North West Thames Regional Health Authority in 1991. Between 1994 and 2000 he served as the chief executive of the NHS executive in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
where he was the Secretary of State
Secretary of State
Secretary of State or State Secretary is a commonly used title for a senior or mid-level post in governments around the world. The role varies between countries, and in some cases there are multiple Secretaries of State in the Government....
’s principal policy adviser for the NHS. He was known as a formidably hard worker. In 1998 he received a Knighthood in the Queen's birthday honours list for his services to the NHS.
Langlands was chief executive of the NHS in England during a period of rapid change. His six years at the top, from 1994 to 2000, spanned the election of the new Labour government and included the Bristol inquiry, the rise of concern about healthcare-acquired infections and pressure for changes in working practices in the NHS. He also oversaw the setting up of bodies such as the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence
The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence is a special health authority of the English National Health Service , serving both English NHS and the Welsh NHS...
and the Commission for Health Improvement
Commission for Health Improvement
The Commission for Health Improvement was a non-departmental public body sponsored by the Department of Health of the United Kingdom from 2001 until 2004, when its functions were subsumed by the Healthcare Commission....
, which drove improvement and consistency across the NHS.
University of Dundee
On 1 September 2001, he was appointed the Principal and Vice-Chancellor of the University of DundeeUniversity of Dundee
The University of Dundee is a university based in the city and Royal burgh of Dundee on eastern coast of the central Lowlands of Scotland and with a small number of institutions elsewhere....
following the retirement of Ian James Graham-Bryce. During this time, Sir Alan was also appointed Chairman of UK Biobank
UK Biobank
UK Biobank is a large long-term biobank study in the United Kingdom which is investigating the respective contributions of genetic predisposition and environmental exposure to the development of disease...
, a joint venture set up by the Wellcome Trust
Wellcome Trust
The Wellcome Trust was established in 1936 as an independent charity funding research to improve human and animal health. With an endowment of around £13.9 billion, it is the United Kingdom's largest non-governmental source of funds for biomedical research...
and the Medical Research Council
Medical Research Council (UK)
The Medical Research Council is a publicly-funded agency responsible for co-ordinating and funding medical research in the United Kingdom. It is one of seven Research Councils in the UK and is answerable to, although politically independent from, the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills...
to oversee one of the world’s largest genetic epidemiology studies, and a Non-Executive Director of the Office for the Strategic Coordination of Health Research and the UK Statistics Authority
UK Statistics Authority
The UK Statistics Authority is an independent body operating at arm's length from Government as a non-ministerial department, directly accountable to Parliament...
. He is a Trustee of The Nuffield Trust
Nuffield Trust
The Nuffield Trust is a charitable trust based in London, whose aim is to produce independent analysis and debate on UK healthcare policy.Its principal activities include:*Holding meetings, workshops and seminars for people interested in UK healthcare...
and Chairman-designate of the Health Foundation.
In November 2008, Sir Alan announced his intention to stand down from his position as Principal at the University of Dundee in March 2009.
The Higher Education Funding Council for England (HEFCE)
On 1 April 2009, Alan Langlands became Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for EnglandHigher Education Funding Council for England
The Higher Education Funding Council for England is a non-departmental public body of the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills in the United Kingdom, which has been responsible for the distribution of funding to Universities and Colleges of Higher and Further Education in England since...
, replacing Professor David Eastwood
David Eastwood
Professor David Stephen Eastwood is a British academic who became Vice-Chancellor of the University of Birmingham on 13 April 2009, taking over from Professor Michael Sterling upon the latter's retirement. Prior to this, he was Chief Executive of the Higher Education Funding Council for England ,...
.
Honours
In October 2001 Langlands was conferred a doctor of the University of GlasgowUniversity of Glasgow
The University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
and in April 2001 he was awarded an honorary fellowship of the Royal College of General Practitioners
Royal College of General Practitioners
The Royal College of General Practitioners is the professional body for general practitioners in the United Kingdom. The RCGP represents and supports GPs on key issues including licensing, education, training, research and clinical standards. It is the largest of the medical royal colleges, with...
for his contribution to the general medical field for his work with the NHS. He is an honorary professor at the University of Warwick
University of Warwick
The University of Warwick is a public research university located in Coventry, United Kingdom...
business school and the US Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins University
Johns Hopkins University
The Johns Hopkins University, commonly referred to as Johns Hopkins, JHU, or simply Hopkins, is a private research university based in Baltimore, Maryland, United States...
Bioethics Institute. He has also received honorary fellowships by the Royal College of Physicians
Royal College of Physicians
The Royal College of Physicians of London was founded in 1518 as the College of Physicians by royal charter of King Henry VIII in 1518 - the first medical institution in England to receive a royal charter...
(London), the Royal College of General Practitioners, the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh is an organisation dedicated to the pursuit of excellence and advancement in surgical practice, through its interest in education, training and examinations, its liaison with external medical bodies and representation of the modern surgical workforce...
, the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons (Glasgow), the Faculty of Public Health Medicine and the Institute of Actuaries
Institute of Actuaries
The Institute of Actuaries was one of the two professional which represented actuaries in the United Kingdom . The Institute was based in England, while the other body, the Faculty of Actuaries, was based in Scotland...
. He holds a diploma of the Institute of Healthcare Management.
He also holds membership of the Health Advisory Board at INSEAD
INSEAD
INSEAD is an international graduate business school and research institution. It has campuses in Europe , Asia , and the Middle East , as well as a research center in Israel...
, the External Advisory Board of the Royal College of Physicians and the National Advisory Board of the Johns Hopkins University Bioethics Institute.
He has also been awarded the HM Queen Elizabeth, The Queen Mother Fellowship by the Nuffield Trust
Nuffield Trust
The Nuffield Trust is a charitable trust based in London, whose aim is to produce independent analysis and debate on UK healthcare policy.Its principal activities include:*Holding meetings, workshops and seminars for people interested in UK healthcare...
.