The Surgeon-General of the United Kingdom Armed Forces is the most senior uniformed medical officer in the British Armed Forces.

Army

The post of Surgeon-General dates from 1664; there was also, from 1685, a Physician-General appointed; together, they directed the Army's medical services. These offices lapsed following the establishment of the Army Medical Department in 1810; but in 1874, the title of surgeon-general was reinstated as the highest rank for military medical officers. The rank of deputy surgeon-general was also introduced, although it was redesignated surgeon-colonel from 7 August 1891. In 1918, surgeon-general was redesignated as the standard Army rank of

major-general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

, except for the most senior surgeon-general, who was redesignated a lieutenant-general.

Defence Medical Services

Latterly, the role was described as "professional head of

Defence Medical Services The Defence Medical Services (DMS) is an umbrella organisation within the Ministry of Defence in the United Kingdom. It consists of the Defence Medical Services Group, part of Strategic Command, the Royal Navy Medical Service, Army Medical Servic ...

and the Defence Authority for end to end Defence healthcare and medical operational capability". It had always been held by a three-star military medical officer, with the title of Surgeon-General; but in July 2019 a civilian was appointed to the role for the first time,

Peter Homa Peter Michael Homa is a British health service manager. He started work in the National Health Service in 1979 as a hospital porter after which he commenced the NHS National Management Training Scheme in London in 1981 and was chief executive a ...

, whose job title is Director General of the Defence Medical Services (DGDMS). The last person to have been appointed Surgeon-General as both professional head of the Defence Medical Services and head of the Joint Medical Group was Lieutenant-General

Martin Bricknell Lieutenant General Martin Charles Marshall Bricknell, is a British physician and former British Army officer. He served as Surgeon General of the British Armed Forces from 2018 to 2019. Early life and education Martin Bricknell studied medicine ...

, although Air Vice-Marshal

Alastair Reid Alastair Reid (22 March 1926, in Whithorn – 21 September 2014, in Manhattan) was a Scottish poet and a scholar of South American literature. He was known for his lighthearted style of poems and for his translations of South American poets Jo ...

was Acting Surgeon-General of the Defence Medical Services from 2018 to 2019. On the appointment of Peter Homa as Director General of the Defence Medical Services, Reid was confirmed as Defence Medical Director, with responsibility for medical operational capability, medical policy and research and development. In future, the role of Director-General will continue to be open to both serving and civilian candidates.

List of Surgeons-General since 1990

{, class="wikitable" , - ! Rank , , Name , , Post nominals , , Years in office , - , Air Marshal , , Sir Nigel Mills , , , , 1990–1991 , - ,

Lieutenant General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

, , Sir Peter Beale , , , , 1991–1994 , - , Surgeon Vice Admiral , , Anthony Revell , , , , 1994–1997 , - , Air Marshal , , Sir John Baird , , , , 1997–2000 , - , Lieutenant General , , Robert Menzies , , , , 2000–2002 , - , Surgeon Vice Admiral , , Ian Jenkins , , , , 2002–2006 , - , Lieutenant General , , Louis Lillywhite , , , , 2006–2009 , - , Surgeon Vice Admiral , , Philip Raffaelli , , , , 2009–2012 , - , Air Marshal , , Paul Evans , , , , 2012–2015 , - , Surgeon Vice Admiral , ,

Alasdair Walker Surgeon Vice-Admiral Alasdair James Walker, (22 June 1956 – 1 June 2019) was a British medical doctor and senior Royal Navy officer. He served as Surgeon-General of the British Armed Forces. Early life and education From 1965 to 1974, Wa ...

, , CB, OBE, OStJ, QHS, FRCS, , 2015–2018 , - , Air Vice-Marshal , , Richard Broadbridge , , CB, QHS, FRAeS, FRCGP , , ''2017 (acting)'' , - , Lieutenant General , ,

, , CB, QHP , , 2018–2019 , - , Air Vice-Marshal , ,

, , CB, QHP , , ''2019–2021 (acting)'' , - , Major General , , Timothy Hodgetts , , , , 2021–{{London Gazette , issue=63358, date=25 May 2021, page=9308, supp=y

References

External links

Defence Medical Services – HQ Surgeon General/ Director General Defence Medical Services
British military appointments Military medicine in the United Kingdom