Two new appointments have been done in the Department of Health. It has been officially announced that Professor Alistair Burns and Professor David Oliver have been appointed to new clinical directorships in the department.

To lead the cross-government ageing strategy as the national clinical director for older people, Professor Oliver, will put his experience as consultant physician and clinical director at the Royal Berkshire Foundation to use.

Regarding the appointments care services minister Phil Hope said, “Professor Oliver is a leader in older people’s healthcare and knows how public services work. His influence will be critical in enabling us to ensure that all older people get the services that they need as individuals.”

Being appointed as the national clinical director for dementia Professor Burns will be working alongwith Professor Oliver.

Professor Burns, who is currently professor of old age psychiatry at Manchester University and the Manchester Academic Health Science Centre, said, “The challenge now is to build on this to make a real positive difference to people with dementia, their families and carers. I very much look forward to working with colleagues to realise this ambition.”

The appointments have been welcomed by the Alzheimer's Society.