Announcement of the appointment of Dr John Scadding as the new chair of the Independent Medical Expert Group (IMEG)

The role of IMEG is to provide independent advice to Minister (DPV) on the medical and scientific aspects of the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme (AFCS).

Dr Scadding is currently an Honorary Consultant Neurologist Emeritus at the National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery (NHNN), London. A senior British neurologist, now retired from clinical practice, but active in a number of clinical advisory and academic roles. He has experience of NHS and academic management roles.

Dr Scadding has formerly held a number of senior advisory and management roles, including chairmanship of the Medical Committee of NHNN; Medical Director of NHNN, and subsequently Deputy Medical Director of University College London Hospitals (UCLH); membership of the Board of Governors of NHNN Special Health Authority and of the Committee of Management of the Institute of Neurology (now part of UCL). He was Academic Dean and Vice President of the Royal Society of Medicine and until recently Chair of the Research Committee of The Cure Parkinson’s Trust.

He was formerly a member of the Medical Committee at CBDE Porton Down in the 1980s; a member of the original MOD ethics committees and later vice-chairman of MODREC (Ministry of Defence Research Ethics Committee); a member of several working parties; and Civilian Consultant Adviser in Neurology to both the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force.

Dr Scadding has been appointed for a period of 3 years and will take up his post on 1 August 2019. The appointment has been made in accordance with the Governance Code on Public Appointments. All appointments are made on merit and political activity plays no part in the selection process. However, there is a requirement for appointees’ political activity (if any declared) to be made public. In this case, none has been declared.