Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
Key role for consultant with health board
An NHS Lanarkshire consultant has been appointed deputy chief medical officer and will play a key role in providing information to the Scottish Government.
Professor Graham Ellis has worked as a consultant geriatrician in Lanarkshire for 15 years and an associate medical director for more than seven years.
He has been working within the Scottish Government since November 2019, initially as a clinical adviser to the chief medical officer, and was instrumental in setting up an Older Peoples’ Directorate within the Safety and Quality Improvement Division of the Scottish Government.
Professor Alison Strath has been confirmed as the Scottish Government’s new chief pharmaceutical officer (CPO), while Professor Nicola Steedman was also appointed deputy chief medical officer (DCMO).
The DCMOS support and deputise for the chief medical officer (CMO) and work closely with the chief scientist (health), a number of doctors within the Civil Service seconded from the NHS, and administrative colleagues.
The CPO is the professional lead for NHS pharmaceutical care and medicines policy in Scotland, providing advice to the First Minister, the Health Secretary, the wider ministerial team and strategic leadership to the pharmacy profession in Scotland.
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “The past year has highlighted just how important health and social care is to the work of the Scottish Government, and I’m delighted to welcome Professor Alison Strath as chief pharmaceutical officer and professors Graham Ellis and Nicola Steedman as our new deputy chief medical officers.
“They will all play a key role in ensuring that health and social care advice informs our work across the board and adds value to our pandemic response.”
CMO Dr Gregor Smith said:”scotland’s response to the pandemic has been informed by a strong clinical team, working around the clock and adapting to change in unprecedented circumstances.
“We’re only as strong as the colleagues who support us and I am proud to work with an incredibly dedicated team of clinicians.
“These permanent appointments ensure we continue the high quality work which started even before the pandemic, but which will prove vital as we recover from the coronavirus pandemic.”
Professor Strath and Professor Steedman were already in place as interim CPO and DCMO on a temporary basis. They take up their posts with immediate effect following an external recruitment process.
Professor Ellis takes up his new post on September 6 and joins the Scottish Government on secondment from NHS Lanarkshire.