Surgeon-General (United Kingdom)

Last updated
Surgeon General of the United Kingdom Armed Forces
MinistryofDefence.svg
Incumbent
Philip McNee
since May 2024
Defence Medical Services
Website Defence Medical Services

The title Surgeon-General has been used for different purposes at different times in the United Kingdom. Initially it was the designation of a director of the Army's medical services. Subsequently it was a senior rank in the Army Medical Department (and, briefly, in the Royal Navy). Having lapsed after the First World War, the title was again revived in the late 20th century for the most senior uniformed medical officer in the British Armed Forces. Currently, it pertains to a senior uniformed medical officer, working under the Director General Defence Medical Services.

Contents

Army

Office

With the formation of a standing army in the 1660s, there was a need for greater co-ordination of the provision of medical services (which had previously been arranged on a more ad hoc basis by individual regiments). [1] In Ireland, a Physician-General was appointed in 1660, and a Surgeon-General in 1661. In 1664 the King's Physician-in-Ordinary and Serjeant Surgeon took on a similar role informally, before being appointed 'Surgeon General of all the Forces in England and Wales', in 1664. In 1685, a Physician-General was also appointed; together, they directed the Army's medical services. These two offices lapsed following the establishment of the Army Medical Department in 1810. [1]

Rank

In 1873, following the abolition of the regimental system of appointing and supervising medical officers, the title of surgeon-general was used for the highest rank of medical officers in Army Medical Department (replacing that of inspector-general of hospitals and signifying their broader authority). [1] The rank of deputy surgeon-general was also introduced, although it was redesignated surgeon-colonel from 7 August 1891. [2] In 1918, the title again went into abeyance when medical officers were given military rank: surgeon-general was redesignated as the standard Army rank of major-general, except for the most senior surgeon-general, who was redesignated a lieutenant-general. [3]

Royal Navy

In July 1911, the titles of inspector-general of hospitals and fleets and deputy inspector-general of hospitals and fleets were replaced by surgeon-general, Royal Navy, and deputy surgeon-general, Royal Navy, respectively. [4]

In November 1918, the titles of officers of the medical, accountant and naval instructor branches of the Navy were revised "in order to indicate more clearly their status as Officers of [His] Majesty's Naval Service"; thenceforward surgeons-general were styled surgeon rear-admirals and deputy surgeons-general were styled surgeon captains. [5]

Defence Medical Services

In 1985, as part of a move toward greater co-ordination between the medical departments of the three Armed Services, the post of Surgeon General was created anew for the most senior uniformed medical officer in the British Armed Forces (the first holder being Sir Cameron Moffat, who served concurrently as Director General Army Medical Services). [6]

Latterly, the role was described as "professional head of Defence Medical Services and the Defence Authority for end to end Defence healthcare and medical operational capability". [7] It had always been held by a three-star military medical officer; [8] but in July 2019 a civilian was appointed to the role for the first time, Peter Homa, whose job title was Director General Defence Medical Services (DGDMS). [9] Under Peter Homa as DGDMS, Air Vice-Marshal Alastair Reid (who had been appointed to the two-star position of Defence Medical Director in 2018) was designated Surgeon-General. [10]

Subsequently, a serving military medical officer, Air Marshal Clare Walton, has been appointed to the three-star post of Director General Defence Medical Services; but the title Surgeon General has remained attached to the two-star position. [11]

As of 2024, the responsibilities of the DGDMS include: [12]

The responsibilities of the Surgeon General include: [13]

List of Surgeons-General since 1985

For Directors General Defence Medical Services, see Defence Medical Services#List of Directors General since 2019

RankNamePost-nominalsYears in office
Lieutenant General Sir Cameron Moffat KBE , CStJ , QHS , FRCS 1985–1988 [6]
Surgeon Vice Admiral Sir Godfrey Milton-Thompson KBE , QHP , FRCP 1988–1990 [14]
Air Marshal Sir Nigel Mills KBE , QHP , FRCGP , FRCP 1990–1991 [15]
Lieutenant General Sir Peter Beale KBE , QHP , FRCP 1991–1994 [16]
Surgeon Vice Admiral Anthony Revell CB , QHS , FRCA 1994–1997 [17]
Air Marshal Sir John Baird KBE , DL , QHS , FRAeS , FRCPE 1997–2000 [18]
Lieutenant General Robert Menzies CB , OBE , QHS 2000–2002 [19]
Surgeon Vice Admiral Ian Jenkins CB , CVO , CStJ , QHS , FRCS 2002–2006 [20]
Lieutenant General Louis Lillywhite CB , MBE , CStJ , QHP , FRCP 2006–2009 [21]
Surgeon Vice Admiral Philip Raffaelli CB , CStJ , QHP , FRCP 2009–2012 [22]
Air Marshal Paul Evans CB , OStJ , QHP 2012–2015 [23]
Surgeon Vice Admiral Alasdair Walker CB , OBE , OStJ , QHS , FRCS 2015–2018 [24]
Air Vice-Marshal Richard Broadbridge CB , QHS , FRAeS , FRCGP 2017 (acting) [25]
Lieutenant General Martin Bricknell CB , QHP 2018–2019 [26]
Air Vice-Marshal Alastair Reid CB , QHP 2019–2021 [27] [8]
Major General Timothy Hodgetts CB , CBE , QHS , DL 2021–2024 [28]
Major General Philip McNee KHP 2024– [29]

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References

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