Surgeon-General (United Kingdom) Explained

Post:Surgeon General of the United Kingdom Armed Forces
Insignia:MinistryofDefence.svg
Insigniacaption:Ministry of Defence tri-Service Badge
Department:Defence Medical Services
Incumbent:Philip McNee
Incumbentsince:May 2024
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.

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). 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.

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. 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.

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.[2]

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.[3]

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).[4]

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".[5] It had always been held by a three-star military medical officer;[6] 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).[7] 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.[8]

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.[9]

As of 2024, the responsibilities of the DGDMS include:[10]

The responsibilities of the Surgeon General include:[11]

List of Surgeons-General since 1985

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

Rank Name Post-nominals Years in office
1985–1988
1988–1990[12]
1990–1991[13]
1991–1994[14]
Surgeon Vice Admiral 1994–1997[15]
Air Marshal 1997–2000[16]
Lieutenant General 2000–2002[17]
Surgeon Vice Admiral 2002–2006[18]
Lieutenant General 2006–2009[19]
Surgeon Vice Admiral 2009–2012[20]
Air Marshal 2012–2015[21]
Surgeon Vice Admiral 2015–2018
Air Vice-Marshal 2017 (acting)[22]
Lieutenant General 2018–2019
Air Vice-Marshal 2019–2021[23]
2021–2024
Major General KHP2024–[24]

References

  1. Book: Roper . Michael . The Records of the War Office and Related Departments, 1660–1964 . 1998 . Public Record Office . Kew, Surrey .
  2. Book: The Orders in Council for Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. X . 1914 . Eyre and Spottiswoode . London . 197-198 . Admiralty Order in Council No. 137.
  3. Book: The Orders in Council for Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. XII . 1926 . Eyre and Spottiswoode . London . 422-423 . Admiralty Order in Council No. 48.
  4. Web site: Moffat, Sir Cameron William (1929 - 2014) . Royal College of Surgeons of England . 26 March 2024.
  5. Web site: Defence Medical Services . GOV.UK . Ministry of Defence.
  6. Web site: Defence Medical Services head appointed . GOV.UK . Ministry of Defence . 31 July 2019.
  7. News: . Peter Homa appointed as New Director General Defence Medical Services . Peter Homa appointed as New Director General Defence Medical Services . London . 4 July 2019 . 4 July 2019.
  8. Web site: Air Vice-Marshal Reid CB QHP . Friends of Millbank . 26 March 2024.
  9. Web site: Air Marshal Clare Walton CB KHP . GOV.UK . 26 March 2024.
  10. Web site: Air Marshal Clare Walton CB KHP . GOV.UK . 26 March 2024.
  11. Web site: Announcement of Brigadier Philip McNee as Surgeon General . GOV.UK . 26 March 2024.
  12. News: Surgeon Vice-Admiral Sir Godfrey Milton-Thompson. 28 October 2012. The Telegraph. 31 May 2023.
  13. ‘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
  14. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/3638459/Letters-to-The-Daily-Telegraph.html Letters to the Editor
  15. http://www.lloyd-gwii.com/admin/ManagedFiles/4/LloydReport.pdf Gulf War Illnesses
  16. Web site: Winds of Destruction. https://web.archive.org/web/20090105234203/http://www.therli.com/iframe/SHP_books1_1.asp. dead. January 5, 2009.
  17. Web site: kilmarnockacademy.co.uk. www.kilmarnockacademy.co.uk.
  18. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/4944779/Surgeon-Vice-Admiral-Ian-Jenkins.html Obituary
  19. http://www.mod.uk/NR/rdonlyres/163CE5DF-C3E5-4AC6-9DB6-FDAED15DB9B0/0/sgbiog.doc Louis Lillywhite
  20. Web site: Ministry of Defence: Defence Medical Services . 2013-04-27.
  21. Web site: Defence Medical Services. GOV.UK.
  22. Web site: Broadbridge, 5th Baron, (Air Vice-Marshal Richard John Martin Broadbridge) (born 20 Jan. 1959) . Who's Who 2021 . Oxford University Press . 25 June 2021 . en . 1 December 2020.
  23. Web site: Joint Forces Command senior, as of March 2019 . . 28 October 2020 . assets.publishing.service.gov.uk . UK Ministry of Defence . 3 November 2020 . AVM Alastair Reid Acting Surgeon General.
  24. Web site: Announcement of Brigadier Philip McNee as Surgeon General. GOV.UK.

External links