They were scheduled to appear together at a media briefing at 2.30pm on Sunday afternoon. Today news. Scotland’s chief medical officer pictured visiting second home. "If we are going to get through this pandemic we need medical leaders who everyone can follow. Scotland's chief medical officer fears there could be a spike in coronavirus cases in the summer months. "We’ve got good supplies of lateral flow devices, but they are not unlimited supplies. The 51-year-old said, who has held daily coronavirus press briefings with Nicola Sturgeon, admitted she "did not follow the advice I am giving to others" and did not have "legitimate reasons" for travelling more than an hour from her Edinburgh home to the property. Dr Gregor Smith has been appointed Scotland's interim Chief Medical Officer following the resignation of Dr Catherine Calderwood on 5 April.. Dr Calderwood has resigned after making two trips to her second home during the coronavirus lockdown. "In line with guidance, she stayed within her own household group and observed social distancing with anyone she was in passing in the village.". “While there are reasons for what I did, they do not justify it and they were not legitimate reasons to be out of my home. Scotland’s chief medical officer resigned Sunday after two consecutive weekend trips to her summer home — violating her own advice to stay home during the coronavirus outbreak. "If we can do that, we can manage the outbreaks just as we do when we manage measles. The Scottish Government COVID-19 Advisory Group will be a time limited expert group chaired by Professor Andrew … Dr Smith said people who were regularly tested often do away with other precautions such as hand washing, arguing that it was a difficult balance. Dr Catherine Calderwood had … With the new variants and the mutating nature of the coronavirus, Dr Gregor Smith said boosters may be needed in addition to the massive population rollout that is currently underway. Dr Gregor Smith and Nicola Sturgeon told the Scottish Parliament’s Covid-19 committee on Wednesday that testing and regular vaccinations were likely to be a feature of life for 'some years' to come. ", Mike Russell, the SNP's Constitution Minister, told BBC Scotland's Sunday Politics programme there was no doubt the visit was ill advised and "I think Catherine will say that herself when she appears at the daily press briefing. Dr Smith said: “It’s my view that we won’t eradicate coronavirus. A former national director for maternity and women's health at NHS England, she … Prior to his appointment as Interim Chief Medical Officer, Smith was Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Scotland, having been … Meghan and Harry Oprah interview: ‘She is just an attention seeker. But, even before Police Scotland's intervention, Holyrood's opposition parties said her position was "untenable" and questioned how she could continue to deliver the Scottish Government's keystone "stay at home" message when her credibility had been so badly damaged. providing clinical advice on professional standards and guidelines. Find out more, Chief Medical Officer Dr Catherine Calderwood during a media briefing at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh on coronavirus, SNP whip Patrick Grady stands down amid sexual harassment claims, Sex, gender and the Census: how the culture wars affect us all, Covid lockdown roadmap: the rule changes to expect, and key dates for restrictions easing, Britain is set for a brighter economic future and the EU can't bear it, EU and Ireland join forces to harness pressure This website and its associated newspaper are members of Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO). leading medical and public health professionals to improve the mental and physical wellbeing of people in Scotland. The former GP stepped in … Vaccinations for Covid-19 might be needed for years to come, according to Scotland’s Chief Medical Officer. "Police officers and staff are putting themselves in harm's way day and night to explain these instructions to our communities, encourage cooperation and, where necessary, enforce them. Scotland’s chief medical officer has apologised for breaking coronavirus lockdown measures to visit her second home in Fife, which first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she was “wrong” to … The extraordinary move came after Dr Calderwood issued a grovelling apology but failed to resign after being photographed with her husband and three children near a coastal retreat in Earlsferry, Fife. Willie Rennie, the Scottish Liberal Democrat leader, whose North East Fife Holyrood seat includes Dr Calderwood's second home, said it was "impossible" for her to continue following a "massive error of judgement. There are four CMOs in the United Kingdom who are appointed to advise their respective governments: Her Majesty's Government Scottish Government Welsh Government Northern Ireland Executive Each CMO is assisted by one or more Deputy Chief Medical Officers, and complemented by … THE under-fire Chief Medical Officer says flouting lockdown rules was "human error" - as Scotland's death toll rose to 220. We don’t have the capacity to do that. The Telegraph values your comments but kindly requests all posts are on topic, constructive and respectful. In the United Kingdom, a Chief Medical Officer is the most senior government advisor on matter relating to health. What an atrocious example she has set https://t.co/xAxAYxtzNh. Part of: Coronavirus in Scotland, Health and social care, Public safety and emergencies. DR Gregor Smith has been officially named as Scotland’s chief medical officer. This is a consensus statement from the Chief Medical Officers and Deputy Chief Medical Officers of England, Scotland, Northern Ireland and Wales on … It is vital that everyone adheres to these requirements. from US over Brexit, the Scottish Government issued a travel warning. Chief Medical Officer Directorate. "They observed social distancing throughout, so they were very safe. Want to join the conversation? ", You would have thought this should apply to Catherine Calderwood, too. Scotland’s chief medical officer, Catherine Calderwood, issued a formal apology Sunday after she was photographed visiting her second home with her family, despite a stay-at-home order. She said she did not want her "mistake to distract" from official advice to stay at home, but insisted she would continue in the post after speaking with Ms Sturgeon. "Healthcare staff, schools and some really high risk working environments have been where we have focused on thus far. He said: "You would have thought this should apply to Catherine Calderwood, too. "While I and my family followed the guidance on social distancing at all times, I understand that I did not follow the advice I am giving to others, and I am truly sorry for that. ", The head of the Scottish Police Federation, which represents rank-and-file officers, said the job of policing the epidemic "just got that little bit harder this morning. all Chris Whitty Gregor Smith Scotland Coronavirus show death. Lockdown is incredibly difficult for everyone but the rules apply to us all.I really don't know what Dr Calderwood can have been thinking to go against the official Coronavirus Government advice she has been advocating and act in this irresponsible way.https://t.co/1lO8QnG0GF. Scottish government Dr Gregor Smith has been confirmed as Scotland's chief medical officer (CMO) on a permanent basis. ", Citing emergency coronavirus legislation, Calum Steele said: "I can tell you categorically that checking on a second home is not one of the listed 'reasonable excuses' for being out of your own.". Scotland’s chief medical officer has apologised for visiting her family’s second home in Fife during the coronavirus pandemic, against her own advice that all Scots should stay home. Chris Whitty Gregor Smith Related News. There cannot be one rule for the bosses and another one for everyone else.“. Scotland's chief medical officer Catherine Calderwood has resigned after breaching the UK lockdown by visiting her second home. "The legal instructions on not leaving your home without a reasonable excuse apply to everyone.". Professor Bain was the Scottish Government’s medical adviser for public health reform and most recently worked as the director of infection prevention and … She said: “Why can’t we just give these twice weekly to everyone in the population? On Thursday she tweeted a photo of her family from their £1.5 million main home in the Scottish capital as they clapped for the frontline NHS staff working to stop the spread of Covid-19. Letter from the Chief Medical Officer, Dr Gregor Smith, on the arrangements for the COVID-19 vaccination programme, following authorisation for supply and use of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine and changes to advice on the use of the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine by … Photos of Dr Calderwood and her family near a coastal retreat in Earlsferry were published in The Scottish Sun late on Saturday.