Expert who never attended a meeting quits MMR safety panel

CAMILLO FRACASSINI HEALTH CORRESPONDENT
cfracassini@scotlandonsunday.com

A MEMBER of the government’s expert group on the controversial MMR vaccine has quit to make the "most economical use of his time".

Jonathan Best, chief executive of Yorkhill NHS Trust, was chosen from hundreds of health experts, campaigners and scientists to join the panel but has never attended any of the meetings.

The group was set up to assess the safety of the highly contentious triple measles, mumps and rubella vaccine, and last night autism campaigners said Best’s place on the group could have been taken by someone more committed to the inquiry.

Bill Welsh, of Action Against Autism, said: "Parents of young children will be dismayed to learn that a senior health executive has failed to attend a single meeting of the expert group on the MMR vaccine.

"This brings into question the decision to appoint Jonathan Best ahead of respected experts such as Dr Ken Aitken and Dr Gordon Bell who were only asked as an afterthought. Dr John March, a leading research scientist involved in vaccination, has been ignored. The Scottish Executive must review its procedures regarding appointments to future ‘expert’ committees."

Earlier this month Scotland on Sunday revealed the group’s long-awaited report into the safety of the MMR jab had been delayed because of a split among the experts. The report, which had been due to be published in January, will not be published until next month at the earliest.

Health chiefs and politicians reacted angrily to the delay. They said it was crucial that parents of young children were given clear advice by the government as soon as possible in the wake of declining vaccination rates north of the Border.

Yesterday, Yorkhill NHS Trust insisted Best had decided not to take part in the group from its inception. However, his departure has only now been formally announced and the Scottish Executive health department said he had only left last month.

A spokeswoman for Yorkhill said Best had agreed with Lawrence Weaver, professor of child health at the trust, to allow him to represent Yorkhill on the group. She said: "Mr Best has not attended the meetings but Professor Weaver has been feeding back information to him. Mr Best is involved in a lot of other projects and felt it was the best and most economical use of his time.

"He has made a personal decision to leave because he could not combine his other commitments with the work that was expected as part of the group."