This report, led by Sir Liam as a statement on behalf of the Government, the medical profession and the NHS, set out a public commitment to high quality healthcare with an emphasis on safety and a framework to achieve it. This included clear standards and best practice implementation, greater clinical governance towards quality assurance and improvement in supported local services, patient collaboration and safety improvements and greater collaborative working.

From 21 May 1999, the Commonwealth Fund and the Nuffield Trust held joint annual meetings to discuss quality of health care. These were also known as the "Pennyhill Park Meetings", after the hotel in Surrey they were held at.

Sir Liam participated in these meetings in his role as Chief Medical Officer from the first meeting, bringing together health care leaders, practioners and researchers from England and the USA.

Consists of copy of book review by Sir Liam of Evidence-Based Health Care, by J A Muir Gray. Stresses the need for an evidence based movement in policy making and management in health care and recommends the book as an important start. Sir Liam writes in his role as Professor of Applied Epidemiology at Newcastle University.

Consists of copy of Sir Liam's chapter entitled Clinical Governance: A Quality Concept, in which he defines clinical governance, describes its origins, and emphasises the importance of organisational culture in the new primary care groups and trusts.

Chapter featured on pages 3 to 13. This book was the winner of the European Health Management Association's 2000 The Baxter Award and the winner of the BAMM Medical Management Book of the Year in 2000.

Consists of copy of Sir Liam's chapter, co-written with David Benton, entitled Quality in Healthcare: A Public Health Perspective, in which he discusses the need for intergrated strategies for quality improvement and impact from public health practioners being evaluated on overall population health.

Chapter featured on pages 227 to 250.

The Prime Minister expresses his sadness at Sir Liam's decision to step down as Chief Medical Officer and pays tribute to his work on NHS Reform, quality of care, patient safety, personalised services, the smoking ban and organ donation. He also thanks him for remaining in post to help respond to the H1N1 Influenza Swine Flu epidemic.