Surgeon-General (United Kingdom)

Surgeon General of the United Kingdom Armed Forces
Ministry of Defence tri-Service Badge
Incumbent
Philip McNee
since May 2024
Defence Medical Services
WebsiteDefence 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.

Army

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Office

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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

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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

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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

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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]

  • being the functional lead for medical and healthcare within the Ministry of Defence
  • leading the transformation of the Defence Medical Services
  • ensuring all UK Armed Forces personnel receive safe, efficient and effective healthcare.

The responsibilities of the Surgeon General include:[13]

  • maximising the number of service personnel fit for task through securing appropriate levels of health; optimising the health and healthcare of deployed population at risk throughout the operational patient care pathway.
  • the senior technical authority for defence medicine, including prevention, detection, treatment, and recovery from the full spectrum of illness and injury.
  • strategic advice on defence medical doctrine, concepts, capability planning, force development and lessons.
  • directing medical research and medical innovation in Defence, the co-ordination of strategic DMS defence engagement and directing continuous clinical quality improvement in defence.

List of Surgeons-General since 1985

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

Rank Name Post-nominals Years 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]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Roper, Michael (1998). The Records of the War Office and Related Departments, 1660–1964. Kew, Surrey: Public Record Office.
  2. ^ "No. 26196". The London Gazette. 28 August 1891. p. 4615.
  3. ^ "No. 30906". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 September 1918. p. 11141.
  4. ^ "Admiralty Order in Council No. 137". The Orders in Council for Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. X. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. 1914. pp. 197–198.
  5. ^ "Admiralty Order in Council No. 48". The Orders in Council for Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. XII. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. 1926. pp. 422–423.
  6. ^ a b "Moffat, Sir Cameron William (1929 - 2014)". Royal College of Surgeons of England. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Defence Medical Services". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence.
  8. ^ a b "Defence Medical Services head appointed". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  9. ^ "Peter Homa appointed as New Director General Defence Medical Services". Peter Homa appointed as New Director General Defence Medical Services. London. 4 July 2019. Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Air Vice-Marshal Reid CB QHP" (PDF). Friends of Millbank. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Air Marshal Clare Walton CB KHP". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  12. ^ "Air Marshal Clare Walton CB KHP". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  13. ^ "Announcement of Brigadier Philip McNee as Surgeon General". GOV.UK. Retrieved 26 March 2024.
  14. ^ "Surgeon Vice-Admiral Sir Godfrey Milton-Thompson". The Telegraph. 28 October 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  15. ^ ‘MILLS, Air Marshal Sir Nigel (Holroyd)’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007 Who was Who, accessed 26 April 2011
  16. ^ Letters to the Editor 15 March 2007 The Telegraph
  17. ^ Gulf War Illnesses Archived 2011-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
  18. ^ "Winds of Destruction". Archived from the original on January 5, 2009.
  19. ^ "kilmarnockacademy.co.uk". www.kilmarnockacademy.co.uk.
  20. ^ Obituary The Telegraph
  21. ^ Louis Lillywhite MOD
  22. ^ "Ministry of Defence: Defence Medical Services". Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  23. ^ "Defence Medical Services". GOV.UK.
  24. ^ "No. 61488". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 February 2016. p. 1994.
  25. ^ "Broadbridge, 5th Baron, (Air Vice-Marshal Richard John Martin Broadbridge) (born 20 Jan. 1959)". Who's Who 2021. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020. Retrieved 25 June 2021.
  26. ^ "No. 62610". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 April 2019. p. 6432.
  27. ^ "Joint Forces Command senior, as of March 2019". assets.publishing.service.gov.uk. UK Ministry of Defence. 28 October 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020. AVM Alastair Reid Acting Surgeon General
  28. ^ "No. 63358". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 May 2021. p. 9308.
  29. ^ "Announcement of Brigadier Philip McNee as Surgeon General". GOV.UK.
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