After 15 years in the job, the Chief Medical Officer for Britain Sir Liam Donaldson has announced that he will be stepping down. It was revealed that he intended to retire earlier this year, but when the swine flu pandemic first became a threat, he agreed to stay in the post to resolve the situation.
The news that he now will step down in May is a strong indicator that officials are now confident that swine flu is under control. He has promised that if there should be an unexpected worsening of the influenza he will remain in his post.
Sir Liam has been the longest serving Chief Medical Officer so far. During his time in the role he made himself the scourge of smokers and tobacco companies, pushing successfully for the introduction of no smoking in public spaces.
He also handled a variety of different high-profile cases, such as the scandal at Alder Hey Children’s Hospital and the recommendations that came up after GP Harold Shipman’s serial murders were discovered.
In his resignation letter, he said that there was a few things he was especially proud of, such as the smoking ban, his work to promote stem cell research and his drive to change the laws of consent over organ donation. He described himself as ‘immensely proud’ to have served in the post.
The Prime Minister Gordon Brown in a statement thanked Sir Liam for his work and described his work as outstanding, as well as having saved ‘many many lives.’
It is thought that his last push in the role will come in his final report, where he is expected to lobby for greater action to control alcohol consumption in Britain.