APPOINTMENTS

Five new appointments have been made to the Medicines Commission. A further five members have been reappointed for a four-year term. The new appointees are:* Professor Roger Walker, director of pharmaceutical public health, Gwent Health Authority and professor of pharmacy practice at Cardiff University* Dr Jeffrey Aronson, clinical reader in clinical pharmacology and honorary consultant physician, University of Oxford* Dr Susan Bews, medical director of Yamanouchi Pharma* Dr Lydia Brown, medical director of Vetrepharm* Professor Gabrielle Hawksworth, professor of molecular toxicology, University of Aberdeen.The new appointments were effective from May 1 for four years. Reappointed members are:* Professor Edzard Ernst, director of the department of complementary medicine, University of Exeter* Dr Christine McCartney, deputy director, PHLS Central Public Health Laboratory, London* Dr Agnes McKnight, director of Postgraduate General Practice Education, Northern Ireland* Professor Ronald Jones, professor of veterinary anaesthesia, Royal Liverpool University Hospital* Professor Stuart Pocock, professor of medical statistics, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.Nick Simpson has been appointed national accounts manager with Bayer Diagnostics. He will be responsible for a range of products including Glucometer Esprit, Clinistix, and a selection of urinalysis products.