PHE’s emeritus medical director dies

Professor Sir Paul Cosford, 57, was PHE’s medical director and director for health protection from when it was founded in 2012 to 2019 when he took on the emeritus post, and remained on the board.

He continued to provide strategic leadership on several areas for the agency, including global public health. Sir Paul was also a member of the government’s scientific advisory group for emergencies.

His wife Professor Gillian Leng announced his death last night. She said: “With huge sadness, I want to let people know that my dear, dear husband Paul Cosford died this morning after an inspiring four years of living with cancer

“He worked tirelessly to support the pandemic response and will be missed by many, but especially by me.”

Sir Paul, who never smoked and included long-distance cycling among his hobbies, revealed in a 2018 blog post that he had been diagnosed with incurable lung cancer the year before.

Last year he wrote an essay in the British Medical Journal in which he considered is views on assisted dying.

He described his fear around the lack of control, said as a society “we need to set aside entrenched positions on each side of the debate and look openly at the problems faced by people at the end of their lives”. He advocated for “a review that takes account of changing views across wider society”.

Health secretary Matt Hancock paid tribute to Sir Paul on Twitter: “I’m so sorry to hear the news today of Paul Cosford’s death.

“He was a remarkable and inspiring colleague. He made a huge contribution to public health for his whole life and was taken by cancer too young.”

Professor Stephen Powis, NHS England national medical director, said: “I am so sorry to hear the sad news about Paul Cosford. He was such a kind colleague, wonderful to work with and a tremendous source of inspiration to all who were privileged to know and work with him.

“Paul made a massive contribution to public health and even while he was ill, he was helping us in our battle against coronavirus. I admired him so much and he will be very sorely missed. My thoughts are with Gill and his family at this difficult time.”