Sir Donald  Irvine

Sir Donald is Honorary Professor, School of Health in the University of Durham, a Vice President of the Patients Association, President of Age UK Northumbria and Patron of Picker Institute Europe.

In his early professional life Sir Donald was a partner in Lintonville Medical Group, one of the first multi-disciplinary teaching general practices in the UK, between 1960 and 1995. He was one of the founders of vocational training for general practice and was involved through the Royal College of General Practitioners in introducing clinical standard setting and medical audit based on peer review.


He was President of the General Medical Council from 1995 to 2001. Modernising professional regulation and fostering a culture of patient-centred professionalism in medicine were the central themes of his Presidency. He was responsible for the initial development of Good Medical Practice, the code of practice that is basis for medical practice and medical education in the UK and several Commonwealth countries today, and for initiating the development of revalidation (relicensure) for doctors.