Chief scientific adviser role being filled by two people – minister

Q Radio News/PA

The role of Northern Ireland’s chief scientific adviser is being filled by two people, the health minister has said.

Professor Ian Young has been on leave since January.

Earlier this week, Prof Young lost a High Court appeal to block a disciplinary investigation into allegations he failed to tell the family of a nine-year-old girl who died about “failings” in her treatment.

An investigation by the General Medical Council will continue.

At an Executive press conference on Wednesday, Health Minister Robin Swann outlined how Prof Young’s leading role in the region’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic is being filled.

“Our deputy chief scientific adviser stepped up into that role in regards to the absence when Professor Young went off on sick leave, that gap has been filled,” he said.

“Stuart Elborn from Queen’s University is also filling some of the representation duties on bodies.

“Our deputy chief scientific adviser Professor Declan Bradley is attending Sage and does attend the Executive on a weekly basis providing that same support. Declan had already chaired some of our working groups within the department.”

Stormont health minister Robin Swann.