An Irish doctor has been appointed to one of the most powerful positions in the British health service.
Dublin-born Prof Aidan Halligan (45) is to take up the post of deputy chief medical officer in January. The appointment was recently approved by the British Prime Minister, Mr Tony Blair, and announced by the chief medical officer, Sir Liam Donaldson.
Prof Halligan told The Irish Times last night that his promotion represented a huge challenge and came at a time when there had been a loss of public confidence in the National Health Service (NHS) due to cases such as the Bristol children's heart surgery scandal and the Dr Harold Shipman murder investigation.
The NHS has an annual budget of £57 billion, which is half of Ireland's Gross National Product. It is one of the biggest employers in western Europe, with a staff of 1.1 million, and treats one million patients a day.
"The government is committed to change and is determined that the patient is put back at the centre of the health service. It is a great time to be taking over in this role," he said.
Prof Halligan has been working as director of clinical governance for the NHS.
He has been on secondment from his post as professor of fetal maternal medicine at the University of Leicester.
Prof Halligan graduated from Trinity College, Dublin in 1984 and completed postgraduate training in obstetrics and gynaecology at the Rotunda Hospital, Dublin, and Leicester Royal Infirmary.
He was appointed as senior lecturer/honorary consultant at the University of Leicester and Leicester Royal Infirmary in 1994.
He was subsequently appointed as professor of fetal maternal medicine in 1997 and head of obstetric service from 1998. His particular research interests are in health services research and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy.
Prof Halligan succeeds Dr Sheila Adam, who left the post to take up a post as director of public health and health strategy at North East London Strategic Health Authority.
He is the son of Michael and Maureen Halligan from Templeogue, Dublin and is one of a family of six children. He is a brother of TV3 political editor Ms Ursula Halligan.