Professor Sir Jonathan Van-Tam, England’s deputy chief medical officer, is stepping down from his position, it has been announced.
One of England’s most recognisable and trusted medics of the pandemic, Prof Van-Tam is set to return to the Faculty of Medicine and Health at the University of Nottingham, where he has been on secondment from since 2017.
According to The Times, the decision to leave the role is not related to recent political events. However, the loss of “JVT” comes as a further blow for prime minister Boris Johnson after a week in which he has faced calls to resign for attending an illegal garden party in Downing Street in May 2020.
Prof Van-Tam, a regular face at the government’s Covid briefings, has made a name for himself through his wide variety of metaphors, often football-themed, which have helped to simply complex scientific topics for the public.
Confirming Prof Van-Tam’s departure, health secretary Sajid Javid said: “It has been an honour to work with JVT and I am hugely grateful for his advice & the vital role he has played in our vaccination programme. I wish him all the best for the future.”
Former health secretary Matt Hancock, who worked with Prof Van-Tam throughout much of the pandemic, called him “one of the best public health communicators in history”.
He added: “His public service continues back in academia. The whole world owes him our thanks.”
More to follow
