With the end of 2015 in sight, we asked Whitehall's top officials to review the year, set out their priorities for 2016 – and shed some light on their festive plans. Dame Sally Davies, chief medical officer for England, takes part in our biggest-ever perm secs' round-up series...
How did you tackle the biggest challenges facing your organisation in 2015?
The biggest challenges that I have been involved with this year were, in no particular order: helping with the UK response to the Ebola outbreak in West Africa, continuing to work with organisations to tackle antimicrobial resistance, and of course working with the department to prepare for a new government.
What are your department’s top priorities in the year ahead?
As chief medical officer, I will continue to raise the awareness of the issue of antimicrobial resistance and I will continue to speak on health issues such as obesity. In 2016 the National Institute of Health Research [which Davies founded in 2006] will have reached 10 years and I look forward to celebrating and maintaining our excellence in health research.
What film do you hope to watch over the festive period – and what’s the best game to play with the family on Christmas Day?
I am looking forward to watching Shaun the Sheep, and I will be playing triominoes and charades with my family.
Perm secs round-up 2015: Whitehall's top civil servants review the year – and look ahead to 2016