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New Deputy Chief Medical Officer appointed
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Published date:21 November 2003
Dr Fiona Adshead has been appointed England's Deputy Chief Medical Officer responsible for Public Health.
Dr Adshead's role will be to reduce health inequalities and improve the health of the population in general, helping to develop policies and implementing programmes in areas such as:
- Prevention of cancer and heart disease;
- Tobacco control, misuse of drugs and alcohol;
- Sexual health;
- Nutrition and physical activity; and
- Development of the role of Public Health in regional government offices, strategic health authorities, primary care trusts and NHS Trusts.
Dr Adshead is currently Director of Public Health at Camden Primary Care Trust, London.
Health Secretary John Reid said:
"Glaring differences in health between different parts of our country and different groups within it have existed for far too long."
"Tackling these injustices is a task for all of us - including the NHS and my Department. That's why the Deputy CMO role has been enhanced in order to bring a greater focus to our efforts to combat such inequalities."
"And, of course, the role will have an important input into tackling other priorities, including prevention of cancer and heart disease, tobacco control, sexual health and nutrition."
Sir Liam Donaldson, Chief Medical Officer, said:
"I am delighted that Dr Fiona Adshead has been appointed as Deputy Chief Medical Officer."
"She brings a wealth of experience to the position, having developed public health policy at national, regional and local levels, and will be a real asset to the Department. "
"I look forward to Fiona joining the team."
Dr Adshead is expected to take up her appointment in early 2004.
Notes to editor
Biography of Dr Fiona Adshead
Dr Fiona Adshead gained clinical experience in a broad range of posts in London hospitals, including St Bartholomew's, the Brompton and Royal Marsden, between 1986 and 1992 before becoming registrar and then senior registrar at Croydon Health Authority.
She became a consultant in Public Health Medicine at Camden and Islington Health Authority in 2000 and became Director of Public Health at Camden Primary Care Trust in 2002. Her role at the Trust involved leading a public health service for the population of Camden, improving health and wellbeing and reducing inequalities by working with the local authority, other stakeholders, community groups and voluntary organisations.
She is a Policy Adviser to the Faculty of Public Health and a Trustee of the National Heart Forum.
She is married and lives in south London. In her spare time, she enjoys gardening, fine art and travel.
The position
As one of two Deputy Chief Medical Officers within the Health and Social Care Standards and Quality Group, headed by Sir Liam Donaldson, the main focus of the role will be Public Health: reducing health inequalities, promoting good health and improving the health of the population in general.
Responsibility will be to develop plans, implement programmes and deliver objectives in the following areas:
- Reduction of health inequalities.
- Prevention of cancer and heart disease.
- Tobacco control, misuse of drugs and alcohol.
- Sexual health.
- Nutrition and physical activity.
- Development of the Public Health workforce.
- Development of the role of Public Health, liaising with a very wide variety of stakeholders at local, regional and national level.
- Maintenance and development of Public Health Observatories and the Health Development Agency.
Starting salary is up to £126,816 with future increases related to performance.
For media enquires please contact the David Hands on 020 7210 5282.
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Contact:Press officer
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Address:Media Centre, Department of Health
Richmond House, 79 Whitehall
London
SW1A 2NL
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Phone:Media Centre
020 7210 5221
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