Gregor Smith

Background

About Gregor Smith

After 15 years of roles in medical leadership, including 5 years as Deputy CMO for Scotland, I took over the role of CMO for Scotland as the terrible impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic began to strike hard in April 2020. Since that time, I have been the principal clinical adviser to Scottish Government, leading a team of clinicians and policy officials in Scottish Government and the head of medical profession to NHS Scotland. I am committed to the concept of universal healthcare and reducing health inequalities through developing sustainable approaches to health and care. This needs a different approach to healthcare, rich in understanding of people’s preferences and using shared decision making to provide kind and careful care. We’ve called this Realistic Medicine in Scotland and it acknowledges the need to have better, more equal relationships between those who receive, and those who provide care. Realistic Medicine tackles the issues of waste, harm and unwarranted variation in practise. It creates opportunities for clinicians to become improvers and innovators and improves our knowledge and approach to risk. By practising Realistic Medicine, we can make healthcare sustainable, reduce waste and reduce healthcare’s harmful impact on the triple planetary crisis of climate change, pollution and loss of biodiversity. I hold an Honorary Professor role at University of Glasgow and was awarded a knighthood for services to Public Health in 2022.