The Department of Health and Social Care has confirmed that Dr
Thomas Waite has been appointed as Deputy Chief Medical Officer
for England.
Dr Thomas Waite will support Chief Medical Officer (CMO) as the deputy CMO (DCMO)
leading on health protection replacing Professor Jonathan Van-Tam
who stepped down on March 31 2022. His role will cover emergency
response and preparedness, infectious diseases, vaccines and
therapeutics.
Dr Waite graduated in Medicine from Cardiff University and holds
postgraduate qualifications in Public Health, Medical Toxicology
and Medical Education. After his medical and public health
training, he held posts in global health, infectious disease and
environmental health protection. More recently he was Director of
the UK Field Epidemiology Training Programme and helped establish
the UK Public Health Rapid Support Team, leading their first
overseas deployment to Ethiopia.
Dr Waite helped create and lead the Joint Biosecurity Centre
which provided evidence-based, objective analysis to inform local
and national decision-making in response to Covid and has been
interim DCMO since May 2021.
Dr Thomas Waite said:
I am delighted to be appointed as the Deputy Chief Medical
Officer for Health Protection. I am looking forward to the
opportunity to working with teams throughout the country to
develop our preparedness for health hazards and emergencies and
to protect the health of the public.
, Chief Medical Officer said:
Dr Waite has an excellent track record of delivery. His wealth of
experience in epidemiology and emergency preparedness will
benefit the government’s ongoing public health responses as well
as help us to prepare for future events.
The CMO acts as the UK government’s principal medical adviser,
and the professional head of all directors of public health in
local government and the medical profession in government.
The CMO is an independent position at permanent secretary level,
supported by three DCMOs. The role provides public health and
clinical advice to ministers in the Department of Health and
Social Care (DHSC) and across government.
