Nursing Times has just reported the following:

Chief medical officer for England Sir Liam Donaldson is to step down in May after 12 years in the post. His achievements include the smoking ban, the creation of the Health Protection Agency and the introduction of clinical governance. Sir Liam has led the response to the swine flu pandemic and has said that, if it unexpectedly worsens, he will stay in post beyond May.

Sir Liam Donaldson has in his most recent Annual Report recognised the impact of chronic pain on lives including the impact that fibromyalgia has. He had in the past helped FMA UK to send copies of our Medical Professional Booklet to all GPs in the UK.

Prime minister Gordon Brown said in a statement:

I want to thank Sir Liam Donaldson for his outstanding work as chief medical officer for England since 1998. “He has made an extraordinary contribution to the nation’s health, from championing the ban on smoking in public places, to tackling the shortage of donated organs and most recently leading our response to the swine flu pandemic..