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'Martin's principal role will be to take forward the Healthcare Quality and Patient Safety agenda with responsibility for the Healthcare Quality Directorate and professional responsibility for modernising medical careers and undertaking other programmes of work as DCMO on my behalf,' said  Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer.

For the past six years, Professor Marshall has been based in Manchester, having been appointed as Principal in General Practice at the Robert Darbishire Practice in 2000.  Since 2001, he has combined this role with that of Professor of General Practice at the National Primary Care Research Centre, University of Manchester. Professor Marshall has undertaken a range of advisory and consultancy roles both in the UK and abroad. Martin has also been Head of the Division of Primary Care at the University of Manchester since 2003, where he  leads two excellent research units (rated 5* in the 2001 RAE), an impressive undergraduate teaching scheme  and an innovative postgraduate programme.

Martin qualified in medicine at the University of London in 1987 and took-up post as a training GP in 1988. In 1991, Martin became a GP on completing his vocational training and then moved to Manchester where he worked as a GP in a local practice. In 1998-1999, he was a Harkness Fellow in Health Care Policy based at the RAND Corporation, California. He is a member of the Council of the Royal College of General Practitioners and was awarded a CBE for services to healthcare in 2005.

'I would like to welcome Martin to the Department. His particular expertise is the use of information about quality in primary care and engaging the public with health service delivery and performance. His experience will be invaluable as we drive forward our 2-3 year goals for Standards & Quality.

I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Bill Kirkup for his huge contribution during the period he has been acting in the DCMO role. I look forward to continuing to work with Bill in his role as the Standards and Quality Director covering important National Service Frameworks and other vital programmes of work,' Sir Liam Donaldson said.

Professor Marshall will start in his new DCMO role on Monday 15 May 2006.