Jenny Harries


Jennifer Margaret Harries is a public health physician who has been the Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England since June 2019.

Early life and education

Harries was born in October 1958. She studied medicine at the University of Birmingham gaining an intercalated BSc in pharmacology in 1981 and medical degrees, MB ChB, in 1984.

Career

Harries was Regional Director for the South of England for Public Health England from February 2013 before being appointed Deputy Chief Medical officer for England in June 2019. The appointment of a new Chief Medical Officer for England, Chris Whitty was announced simultaneously.
She was appointed OBE in the 2016 New Year Honours.
Harries is appearing at some of the daily press conferences held by the UK government to provide updates about the COVID-19 pandemic. She contributes medical information and answers questions from the press, however some of her statements, including suggesting that those receiving fake virus-tracing phone calls could identify them from the tone of the conversation, have met with controversy and there have been calls on her to resign.