Catherine Calderwood facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Catherine Calderwood
FRCOG FRCPE
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Calderwood in 2020
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| Chief Medical Officer for Scotland | |
| In office 27 February 2015 – 5 April 2020 |
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| Preceded by | Aileen Keel (Acting) |
| Succeeded by | Gregor Smith |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Catherine Jane Calderwood
26 December 1968 Belfast, Northern Ireland |
| Spouse |
Angus Loudon
(m. 2019) |
| Children | 3 |
| Alma mater | Newnham College, Cambridge University of Glasgow |
| Occupation | Consultant obstetrician and gynaecologist |
Catherine Jane Calderwood is a Scottish doctor born on December 26, 1968. She is a specialist in obstetrics and gynaecology, which means she helps women during pregnancy and childbirth. Since 2021, she has been the National Clinical Director for Sustainable Delivery at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital.
Before this, Catherine Calderwood was the Chief Medical Officer for Scotland from 2015 to 2020. In this important role, she gave advice to the Scottish Government. She was especially involved in Scotland's first response to the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland. She later resigned from her role in April 2020.
Contents
About Catherine Calderwood
Her Early Life and Education
Catherine Calderwood was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on December 26, 1968. She was the older of two daughters. Her mother was a psychiatrist, a doctor who helps people with their mental health. Her father was an orthopaedic surgeon, a doctor who works with bones and joints.
Catherine went to school at Methodist College, Belfast. She then studied at Newnham College, Cambridge, graduating in 1990. After that, she studied medicine at the University of Glasgow, becoming a doctor in 1993.
Her Medical Career
After finishing her studies, Catherine Calderwood worked in hospitals. She trained to become an obstetrician and gynaecologist in South East Scotland starting in 2001. She also did special training at St Thomas' Hospital in London.
Since 2006, she has worked as a consultant doctor in NHS Lothian. She specializes in helping pregnant women with medical conditions. She also uses obstetric ultrasonography (ultrasound scans during pregnancy) and cares for women with high-risk pregnancies.
Catherine Calderwood is a member of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. She is also a Fellow of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh. These are important professional groups for doctors.
Working in Health Administration
Catherine Calderwood also worked in important roles that helped improve healthcare. She was part of the Morecambe Bay Investigation. This group looked into maternity and baby care services at a hospital trust in England.
In 2013, she became a senior medical officer for women's and children's health for the Scottish Government. She helped start a program to improve the quality of maternity care. From 2014 to 2015, she was also a national clinical director for maternity and women's health for NHS England.
Chief Medical Officer for Scotland
Becoming Scotland's Top Medical Advisor
In 2014, Catherine Calderwood became the Acting Deputy Chief Medical Officer for Scotland. This role supports the main Chief Medical Officer. In February 2015, she was chosen to be the new Chief Medical Officer for Scotland.
As Chief Medical Officer, she was one of Scotland's most important medical advisors. She helped introduce "Realistic Medicine." This idea encourages doctors and patients to make decisions together. It also aims to reduce differences in healthcare and promote new ideas.
Her Resignation
In April 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in Scotland, Catherine Calderwood faced a difficult situation. She had visited her second home in Earlsferry, Fife, which was about 44 miles from her main home in Edinburgh. She did this on two weekends in a row with her family.
This was against the advice she had given to everyone in Scotland: to stay at home to help stop the virus from spreading. On April 5, 2020, police officers visited her home and reminded her about the rules. Later that day, she said sorry at a government press conference. She admitted she had visited her holiday home more than once during the lockdown.
On the evening of April 5, 2020, Catherine Calderwood resigned from her role. She said that people needed to trust those who give them advice. The First Minister of Scotland, Nicola Sturgeon, later explained that they had agreed together that Catherine should step down.
After Her Resignation
After leaving her role as Chief Medical Officer, Catherine Calderwood returned to working as a doctor. In January 2021, she was appointed the Executive National Clinical Director of the Centre for Sustainable Delivery of Health and Social Care. This role is at the Golden Jubilee University National Hospital.
Personal Life
Catherine Calderwood married Angus Loudon in September 2019. He is an executive director for the charity St John Scotland. They were married at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh. Catherine Calderwood has three children.
