Dame Sally steps down as nation’s ‘chief nanny’

THE Chief Medical Officer is to step down to become head of the largest college at Cambridge University.

Sally Davies, who nine years ago became the first woman to be named as England’s top doctor, has been appointed Master of Trinity College.

The 69-year-old is known as the country’s ‘nanny-in-chief’ because of her strict views on drinking and diet.

She also gained an international reputation for spearheading the fight against superbugs. Dame Sally, pictured, has repeatedly warned that medicine will be taken back to the Middle Ages if we do not deal with antibiotic resistance, comparing the scale of the issue to that of terrorism.

She produced the Government’s first guidelines on screen time for children, published this week, which advised parents to keep mobiles out of the bedroom and away from the dinner table. But she is best known for her crusade to improve the nation’s unhealthy lifestyle.

Three years ago she overhauled the official alcohol guidelines in the biggest shake-up for 30 years. She warned there was no safe level of drinking, stressing that even one glass of wine a day can increase the risk of cancer.

Before her Government roles, Dame Sally worked for 30 years as a consultant haematologist and was head of research and development for the NHS.

She said: ‘I want to pay tribute to the outstanding clinicians, scientists and public servants who have supported me in this role – men and women who are working tirelessly to improve the health of the nation.’

Health Secretary Matt Hancock said: ‘Sally Davies has been a dedicated public servant and a driving force for improving the health of the nation. She has led the fight against antibiotic resistance and public health risks, and has pioneered world-leading action.’

She stands down in September, starting at Trinity the following month.