Surgeon-General (United Kingdom)

The Surgeon-General of the United Kingdom Armed Forces is the most senior uniformed medical officer in the British Armed Forces, currently Air Vice-Marshal Alastair Reid.

Surgeon General of the United Kingdom Armed Forces
Incumbent
Peter Homa
since 2019
Defence Medical Services
WebsiteDefence Medical Services

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.[1] The rank of deputy surgeon-general was also introduced, although it was redesignated surgeon-colonel from 7 August 1891.[2] In 1918, 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]

Defence Medical Services

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".[4] It had always been held by a three-star military medical officer, with the title of Surgeon-General;[5] but in July 2019 a civilian was appointed to the role for the first time, Peter Homa, whose job title is Director General of the Defence Medical Services (DGDMS).[6] 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, although Air Vice-Marshal Alastair Reid 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 Surgeon-General and Defence Medical Director,[7] 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.[5]

List of Surgeons-General since 1990
RankNamePost nominalsYears in office
Air MarshalSir Nigel MillsKBE, QHP, FRCGP, FRCP1990–1991[8]
Lieutenant GeneralSir Peter BealeKBE, QHP, FRCP1991–1994[9]
Surgeon Vice AdmiralAnthony RevellCB, QHS, FRCS1994–1997[10]
Air MarshalSir John BairdKBE, DL, QHS, FRAeS, FRCPE1997–2000[11]
Lieutenant GeneralRobert MenziesCB, OBE, QHS2000–2002[12]
Surgeon Vice AdmiralIan JenkinsCB, CVO, CStJ, QHS, FRCS2002–2006[13]
Lieutenant GeneralLouis LillywhiteCB, MBE, CStJ, QHP, FRCP2006–2009[14]
Surgeon Vice AdmiralPhilip RaffaelliCB, CStJ, QHP, FRCP2009–2012[15]
Air MarshalPaul EvansCB, OStJ, QHP2012–2015[16]
Surgeon Vice AdmiralAlasdair WalkerCB, OBE, OStJ, QHS, FRCS2015 – 2018[17]
Lieutenant GeneralMartin BricknellCB, QHP2018–2019[18]
Air Vice-MarshalAlastair Reid2019-present
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References
  1. 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. "Defence Medical Services". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence.
  5. "Defence Medical Services head appointed". GOV.UK. Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 31 July 2019.
  6. "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.
  7. https://www.raf.mod.uk/our-organisation/senior-appointments/
  8. ‘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
  9. Letters to the Editor 15 Mar 2007 The Telegraph
  10. Gulf War Illnesses Archived 2011-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
  11. Winds of Destruction Archived 2009-01-05 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Lieutenant General RC Menzies (b. 1944) Kilmarnock Academy
  13. Obituary The Telegraph
  14. Louis Lillywhite MOD
  15. "Ministry of Defence: Defence Medical Services". Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  16. Defence Medical Services, Ministry of Defence
  17. "No. 61488". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 February 2016. p. 1994.
  18. "No. 62610". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 April 2019. p. 6432.
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