Liam Donaldson
Encyclopedia
Sir Liam Joseph Donaldson (b. 3 May 1949, Middlesbrough
, England
, UK) was the Chief Medical Officer for England
, the 15th occupant of the post since it was established in 1855. As such he was principal advisor to the United Kingdom Government on health matters and one of the most senior officials in the National Health Service
(NHS).
In the 2002 New Year Honours List
, Liam Donaldson received a knighthood in recognition of his achievements in health and health care.
It was announced in December 2009 that Sir Liam planned to retire from the post of Chief Medical Officer in May 2010, although he said that, if the influenza pandemic should unexpectedly worsen, he would have postponed his retirement.
in 1972, and he did his two six-month pre-registration house jobs at the Bristol Royal Infirmary
.
Donaldson was appointed as Chief Medical Officer in 1998. Between 1994 and 1998 he was Regional Director for the NHS Region of Northern and Yorkshire
, and prior to that Regional Medical Officer and Regional Director of Public Health for the Northern Regional Health Authority. He began his career as a surgeon
before training in public health
.
's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and also holds an honorary Chair of Applied Epidemiology at Newcastle University. On 1 August 2009 Donaldson became Chancellor of Newcastle University, replacing Lord Patten
, who stood down after 10 years in office.
He is also Chair of the World Alliance for Patient Safety, which was established by the Director-General
of the World Health Organization
in October 2004.
research, quality and safety of health care
, infectious disease
control, patient empowerment
, clinical performance
, temperance legislation
, medical regulation, and organ and tissue retention
.
(MMC) system and the Medical Training Application Service
(MTAS). This has been very controversial since its inception, with officials from the DH proclaiming success although it has been outrightly rejected by a large group of trainees and consultants. It champions competence rather than excellence and substantially reduces the length of the training programme required to become a consultant. In an unprecedented demonstration against this system, around 12,000 junior doctors marched against MMC and the associated MTAS in March 2007. Subsequently, Professor Alan Crockard the National Director of MMC resigned stating that the project had 'lacked clear leadership from the top for a very long time'. His colleague Professor Shelley Heard has also resigned. The BMA and senior doctors have called repeatedly for his resignation in this matter.
, and the BMA
's spokesman for IT in December 2006 by recommending that GPs should forward letters from patients, requesting that personal medical data not be uploaded to the Spine centralized NHS database, to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt
', Donaldson recommended setting a minimum price per unit of alcohol at 50p and tightening licensing laws. Despite Prime Minister Gordon Brown
's opposition to the move, Donaldson said he would continue to push his case, just as he had with the successful ban on smoking in public places.
In his role as Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam has produced a number of major reports, including:
He has also been awarded honorary Doctorates
by:
Middlesbrough
Middlesbrough is a large town situated on the south bank of the River Tees in north east England, that sits within the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
, 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...
, UK) was the Chief Medical Officer for 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...
, the 15th occupant of the post since it was established in 1855. As such he was principal advisor to the United Kingdom Government on health matters and one of the most senior officials in the National Health Service
National Health Service
The National Health Service is the shared name of three of the four publicly funded healthcare systems in the United Kingdom. They provide a comprehensive range of health services, the vast majority of which are free at the point of use to residents of the United Kingdom...
(NHS).
In the 2002 New Year Honours List
New Year Honours 2002
New Years' Honours are announced on or around the date of the New Year in the Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The dates vary, both from year to year and from country to country...
, Liam Donaldson received a knighthood in recognition of his achievements in health and health care.
It was announced in December 2009 that Sir Liam planned to retire from the post of Chief Medical Officer in May 2010, although he said that, if the influenza pandemic should unexpectedly worsen, he would have postponed his retirement.
Career
Donaldson qualified in medicine from the University of BristolUniversity of Bristol
The University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
in 1972, and he did his two six-month pre-registration house jobs at the Bristol Royal Infirmary
Bristol Royal Infirmary
The Bristol Royal Infirmary, also known as the BRI, is a large teaching hospital situated in the centre of Bristol, England. It has links with the medical faculty of the nearby University of Bristol, and the Faculty of Health and Social Care at the University of the West of England, also in...
.
Donaldson was appointed as Chief Medical Officer in 1998. Between 1994 and 1998 he was Regional Director for the NHS Region of Northern and Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
, and prior to that Regional Medical Officer and Regional Director of Public Health for the Northern Regional Health Authority. He began his career as a surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
before training in public health
Public health
Public health is "the science and art of preventing disease, prolonging life and promoting health through the organized efforts and informed choices of society, organizations, public and private, communities and individuals" . It is concerned with threats to health based on population health...
.
Academic and other posts
Donaldson is Visiting Professor in the University of LeicesterUniversity of Leicester
The University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
's Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, and also holds an honorary Chair of Applied Epidemiology at Newcastle University. On 1 August 2009 Donaldson became Chancellor of Newcastle University, replacing Lord Patten
Chris Patten
Christopher Francis Patten, Baron Patten of Barnes, CH, PC , is the last Governor of British Hong Kong, a former British Conservative politician, and the current chairman of the BBC Trust....
, who stood down after 10 years in office.
He is also Chair of the World Alliance for Patient Safety, which was established by the Director-General
Director-general
The term director-general is a title given the highest executive officer within a governmental, statutory, NGO, third sector or not-for-profit institution.-European Union:...
of the World Health Organization
World Health Organization
The World Health Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations that acts as a coordinating authority on international public health. Established on 7 April 1948, with headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland, the agency inherited the mandate and resources of its predecessor, the Health...
in October 2004.
Achievements
As a result of his reports as Chief Medical Officer, Donaldson has had a marked effect on policy and legislation in a wide range of areas including stem cellStem cell
This article is about the cell type. For the medical therapy, see Stem Cell TreatmentsStem cells are biological cells found in all multicellular organisms, that can divide and differentiate into diverse specialized cell types and can self-renew to produce more stem cells...
research, quality and safety of health care
Health care
Health care is the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease, illness, injury, and other physical and mental impairments in humans. Health care is delivered by practitioners in medicine, chiropractic, dentistry, nursing, pharmacy, allied health, and other care providers...
, infectious disease
Infectious disease
Infectious diseases, also known as communicable diseases, contagious diseases or transmissible diseases comprise clinically evident illness resulting from the infection, presence and growth of pathogenic biological agents in an individual host organism...
control, patient empowerment
Patient empowerment
The patient empowerment concept, a recent outgrowth of the natural health movement, asserts that to be truly healthy, people must bring about changes in their social situations and in the environment that influences their lives, not only in their personal behavior.According to advocates of the...
, clinical performance
Clinical governance
Clinical governance is the term used to describe a systematic approach to maintaining and improving the quality of patient care within a health system. The term became widely used in health care following the Bristol heart scandal in 1995, during which anaesthetist Dr Stephen Bolsin exposed the...
, temperance legislation
Smoking ban
Smoking bans are public policies, including criminal laws and occupational safety and health regulations, which prohibit tobacco smoking in workplaces and/or other public spaces...
, medical regulation, and organ and tissue retention
Organ transplant
Organ transplantation is the moving of an organ from one body to another or from a donor site on the patient's own body, for the purpose of replacing the recipient's damaged or absent organ. The emerging field of regenerative medicine is allowing scientists and engineers to create organs to be...
.
Modernising Medical Careers
Sir Liam was involved in devising the Modernising Medical CareersModernising Medical Careers
Modernising Medical Careers is a programme for postgraduate medical training introduced in the UK from 2005 onwards. The programme replaced the traditional grades of medical career before the level of Consultant. The different stages of the programme contribute towards a "Certificate of...
(MMC) system and the Medical Training Application Service
Medical Training Application Service
The Medical Training Application Service was an on-line application system set up under the auspices of Modernising Medical Careers in 2007 and used for the selection of Foundation House Officers and Specialty Registrars, and allocating them to jobs in the UK...
(MTAS). This has been very controversial since its inception, with officials from the DH proclaiming success although it has been outrightly rejected by a large group of trainees and consultants. It champions competence rather than excellence and substantially reduces the length of the training programme required to become a consultant. In an unprecedented demonstration against this system, around 12,000 junior doctors marched against MMC and the associated MTAS in March 2007. Subsequently, Professor Alan Crockard the National Director of MMC resigned stating that the project had 'lacked clear leadership from the top for a very long time'. His colleague Professor Shelley Heard has also resigned. The BMA and senior doctors have called repeatedly for his resignation in this matter.
Controversy
Sir Liam angered civil liberties campaigners, GPsGeneral practitioner
A general practitioner is a medical practitioner who treats acute and chronic illnesses and provides preventive care and health education for all ages and both sexes. They have particular skills in treating people with multiple health issues and comorbidities...
, and the BMA
British Medical Association
The British Medical Association is the professional association and registered trade union for doctors in the United Kingdom. The association does not regulate or certify doctors, a responsibility which lies with the General Medical Council. The association’s headquarters are located in BMA House,...
's spokesman for IT in December 2006 by recommending that GPs should forward letters from patients, requesting that personal medical data not be uploaded to the Spine centralized NHS database, to Health Secretary Patricia Hewitt
Patricia Hewitt
Patricia Hope Hewitt is an Australian-born British Labour Party politician, who was the Member of Parliament for Leicester West from 1997 until 2010. She served in the Cabinet until 2007, most recently as Health Secretary....
Britain's drinking problem
In March 2009, in order to combat what he referred to as the country's drinking problem or 'passive drinkingPassive drinking
Passive drinking, like passive smoking, refers to the damage done to others as a result of drinking alcoholic beverages. These include the unborn fetus and children of parents who drink excessively, drunk drivers, accidents, domestic violence and alcohol-related sexual assaultsOn 2 February 2010...
', Donaldson recommended setting a minimum price per unit of alcohol at 50p and tightening licensing laws. Despite Prime Minister Gordon Brown
Gordon Brown
James Gordon Brown is a British Labour Party politician who was the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Labour Party from 2007 until 2010. He previously served as Chancellor of the Exchequer in the Labour Government from 1997 to 2007...
's opposition to the move, Donaldson said he would continue to push his case, just as he had with the successful ban on smoking in public places.
Publications
Liam Donaldson is co-author of a standard text book of public health, a history of the Chief Medical Officers of England and over 130 papers in peer review journals. He has also written a foreword for a book on clinical audit.In his role as Chief Medical Officer, Sir Liam has produced a number of major reports, including:
- Supporting doctors, protecting patients (1999)
- Stem cell research: Medical progress with responsibility (2000)
- An organisation with a memory (2000)
- The expert patient: a new approach to chronic disease management for the 21st century (2001)
- The removal, retention and use of human organs and tissue from post-mortem examination (2001)
- Getting ahead of the curve: a strategy for combating infectious diseases (2002)
- At least five a week: Evidence on the impact of physical activity and its relationship to health (2004)
- Good doctors, safer patients: Proposals to strengthen the system to assure and improve the performance of doctors and to protect the safety of patients (2006)
- Safety first (2006)
- Bearing good witness: Proposals for reforming the delivery of medical expert evidence in family law cases (2007)
Degrees
Donaldson has degrees from:- the University of BristolUniversity of BristolThe University of Bristol is a public research university located in Bristol, United Kingdom. One of the so-called "red brick" universities, it received its Royal Charter in 1909, although its predecessor institution, University College, Bristol, had been in existence since 1876.The University is...
(MB ChBBachelor of Medicine and SurgeryBachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, or in Latin Medicinae Baccalaureus, Baccalaureus Chirurgiae , are the two first professional degrees awarded upon graduation from medical school in medicine and surgery by universities in various countries...
, 1972), where he attended Wills HallWills HallWills Hall is one of the nine halls of residence in the University of Bristol. Cresting the Stoke Bishop site on the edge of the Bristol Downs, in Parry's Lane, it houses 340 students in two quadrangles...
, - the University of BirminghamUniversity of BirminghamThe University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
, and - the University of LeicesterUniversity of LeicesterThe University of Leicester is a research-led university based in Leicester, England. The main campus is a mile south of the city centre, adjacent to Victoria Park and Wyggeston and Queen Elizabeth I College....
(MD, 1981), and he was also a Lecturer in the Department of Community Health, and subsequently Senior Lecturer in Epidemiology for four years.
He has also been awarded honorary Doctorates
Honorary degree
An honorary degree or a degree honoris causa is an academic degree for which a university has waived the usual requirements, such as matriculation, residence, study, and the passing of examinations...
by:
- Huddersfield University (honorary DScDSC-in academia:* D.Sc., Doctor of Science* Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine* Dalton State College, Georgia* Daytona State College, Florida* Deep Springs College, California* Dixie State College of Utah...
, 1998), - the University of Bristol (honorary MD, 1999),
- the University of Leicester,
- Cranfield UniversityCranfield UniversityCranfield University is a British postgraduate university based on two campuses, with a research-oriented focus. The main campus is at Cranfield, Bedfordshire and the second is the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom based at Shrivenham, Oxfordshire. The main campus is unique in the United...
(2000), - the University of PortsmouthUniversity of PortsmouthThe University of Portsmouth is a university in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England. The University was ranked 60th out of 122 in The Sunday Times University Guide...
, - the University of East AngliaUniversity of East AngliaThe University of East Anglia is a public research university based in Norwich, United Kingdom. It was established in 1963, and is a founder-member of the 1994 Group of research-intensive universities.-History:...
(honorary ScDScd-In medicine:* Schnyder corneal dystrophy* Semen collection device* Sequential compression device an intermittent pneumatic compression system intended to reduce blood clot formation* Sickle-cell disease...
, 2003), - the University of Teeside (honorary DSc, 2004),
- the University of YorkUniversity of YorkThe University of York , is an academic institution located in the city of York, England. Established in 1963, the campus university has expanded to more than thirty departments and centres, covering a wide range of subjects...
(2004), - the University of NottinghamUniversity of NottinghamThe University of Nottingham is a public research university based in Nottingham, United Kingdom, with further campuses in Ningbo, China and Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia...
(honorary DM, 2005), - De Montfort UniversityDe Montfort UniversityDe Montfort University is a public research and teaching university situated in the medieval Old Town of Leicester, England, adjacent to the River Soar and the Leicester Castle Gardens...
(honorary DSc, 2005), - the University of SunderlandUniversity of SunderlandThe University of Sunderland is located in Sunderland, north east England. The university has more than 17,500 students, including 7,000-plus international students from some 70 countries....
(honorary DSc, 2006), and - the University of HullUniversity of HullThe University of Hull, known informally as Hull University, is an English university, founded in 1927, located in Hull, a city in the East Riding of Yorkshire...
(honorary DSc, 2006).
Fellowships
Donaldson is also:- a Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh (FRCS(Ed)),
- a Fellow of the Faculty of Public Health Medicine (FFPHM),
- a Fellow of the Royal College of PhysiciansRoyal College of PhysiciansThe 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...
(FRCP), - a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of EdinburghRoyal College of Physicians of EdinburghThe Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh was established in the 17th century. While the RCPE is based in Edinburgh, it is by no means just a Scottish professional body - more than half of its 7,700 Fellows, Members, Associates and Affiliates live and practice medicine outside Scotland, in 86...
(FRCP(Ed)), - a Fellow of the Academy of Medical SciencesAcademy of Medical SciencesThe Academy of Medical Sciences is the United Kingdom's national academy of medical sciences. It was established in 1998 on the recommendation of a group that was chaired by Michael Atiyah. Its president is John Irving Bell....
(FMedSci), and - a Fellow of the Royal College of AnaesthetistsRoyal College of AnaesthetistsThe Royal College of Anaesthetists is "the professional body responsible for the specialty of anaesthesia throughout the United Kingdom". It sets standards in anaesthesia, critical care, pain management, and for the training of anaesthetists, physician assistants - and practising critical care...
(FRCA).
Other honours
Other honours include:- the post of Queen's Honorary PhysicianPhysician to the QueenPhysician to the King and Physician to the Queen are titles of the physician who is chief officer of the Medical Household of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom...
during the mid-1990s, - the College Medal by the Royal College of Surgeons of EdinburghRoyal College of Surgeons of EdinburghThe 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...
, awarded in June 2000, - Bradshaw LectureBradshaw LectureThe Bradshaw Lectures are prestigious lectureships given at the invitation of the Royal College of Physicians and the Royal College of Surgeons of England....
, Royal College of Physicians, 2002 - a knighthood in the New Year's Honours List in 2002,
- the Picker Award for Excellence, in recognition of his achievements in the field of patient-centred care and patient safety, and
- the World Health Executive Forum Distinguished Leader Award.