Professor Isabel Oliver has been appointed as' the new Chief
Medical Officer for Wales.
Professor Oliver will be joining the Welsh Government from her
role as Director General of Science and Research and Chief
Scientific Officer at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA).
As Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Prof. Oliver will provide
clinical leadership and be responsible for providing
independent professional advice to the Welsh Government about
health and public health matters. She will also work with
organisations across Wales to reduce health inequalities and lead
the medical profession with the aim of improving the quality of
healthcare and patient outcomes.
Professor Oliver started her career working in acute hospital
medicine in the West Midlands and the South West of England,
before pursuing a career in public health. Prior to her current
role in UKHSA, she was Director of National Infection
Service at Public Health England (PHE).
She is also co-director of the National Institute for Health
Research, Health Protection Research Unit on Behavioural Science
and Evaluation at the University of Bristol, and an honorary
professor at University College, London.
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, , said:
“Professor Oliver brings a wealth of experience to Wales after
working at a senior level in public health in the UK and I look
forward to working with her.
“I'm delighted she has joined us as we work to improve health and
wellbeing, and I'd like to offer her a warm welcome to Wales.”
Professor Oliver, who follows in the previous CMO's footsteps as
a keen runner and is set to take part in the Newport Marathon,
said: “It is an honour to be appointed as the Chief Medical
Officer for Wales and I am very excited to work with the
dedicated health professionals and the communities across Wales
to create a Healthier Wales and safeguard our NHS.
“Today, we face challenges from our ageing population,
inequalities and global factors such as climate change. For
someone like me with a great passion for health and wellbeing,
there are some unique opportunities in Wales to secure major
improvements in public health and health services for all, thanks
to innovative policies and effective collaboration between
sectors and it will be my privilege to serve the people of Wales
to secure healthy, resilient and prosperous communities.”
Professor Oliver replaces Sir Dr Frank Atherton who stands down
at the end of the month.
