In January, 2014, Aidan Halligan was appointed by Public Health England, the University of Manchester, Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Aintree University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust to lead on improving the health of the poorest fastest across the North West. He is Principal of the UCLP NHS Staff College for leadership development working with the military.

Previously, he was Director of Clinical Governance for the NHS, and served in the Department of Health as Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England, with responsibility for issues of clinical governance, patient safety and quality of care across the NHS in England. Prior to this, he was Professor of Fetal-Maternal Medicine at the University of Leicester and Head of Obstetric Services at Leicester Royal Infirmary.

Aidan is Chairman of Pathway, a charitable organisation that is developing health services for the homeless within the NHS.