Pocket profile:

Outspoken, wealthy former publisher who went from the left to radical right of politics and was appointed chair of Brighton Health Care trust in 1992. The year before he had addressed the Tory Party conference in support of the NHS reforms. He was also a member of the prime minister's Citizen's Charter advisory panel.

What is he famous for?

Pioneering performance-related pay for hospital doctors, campaigning for 'patient power' - he once did ward rounds in a wheelchair pretending to be a patient - and a confrontational management style that led to a dramatic revolt by clinicians at Brighton in 1994.

Anything else?

Famously remarked (on breast cancer care): 'If you are going to a bog standard meddler you are likely to die. We are killing thousands of women who should be alive.' Also said he would not share a railway carriage with certain consultants.

The result:

The remarks caused uproar. Abandoned by the then health secretary Virginia Bottomley, he quit the day after Brighton district medical advisory committee passed a 'massive' vote of no confidence in his leadership.

Did he resurrect himself?

Indeed. Popped up again as chair of the Patients Association about a year later, which he said vindicated what he tried to do at Brighton. He stayed just over two years.

Where is he now?

Among other things, chairing the health policy committee of the rightwing think-tank, the Centre for Policy Studies, where he is working on formulating a health policy for the next election. He is also health policy adviser to the Social Market Foundation, and writing books.

How does he feel?

'I haven't gone anywhere. I don't want to co-operate with this column. It is an insult.'