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.

Surgeon General of the United Kingdom Armed Forces
Ministry of Defence tri-Service Badge
Incumbent
Timothy Hodgetts
since 21 May 2021
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 Defence Medical Director.[7] In future, the role of Director-General will continue to be open to both serving and civilian candidates.[5]

List of Surgeons-General since 1988
RankNamePost-nominalsYears in office
Surgeon Vice AdmiralSir Godfrey Milton-ThompsonKBE, QHP, FRCP1988–1990[8]
Air MarshalSir Nigel MillsKBE, QHP, FRCGP, FRCP1990–1991[9]
Lieutenant GeneralSir Peter BealeKBE, QHP, FRCP1991–1994[10]
Surgeon Vice AdmiralAnthony RevellCB, QHS, FRCA1994–1997[11]
Air MarshalSir John BairdKBE, DL, QHS, FRAeS, FRCPE1997–2000[12]
Lieutenant GeneralRobert MenziesCB, OBE, QHS2000–2002[13]
Surgeon Vice AdmiralIan JenkinsCB, CVO, CStJ, QHS, FRCS2002–2006[14]
Lieutenant GeneralLouis LillywhiteCB, MBE, CStJ, QHP, FRCP2006–2009[15]
Surgeon Vice AdmiralPhilip RaffaelliCB, CStJ, QHP, FRCP2009–2012[16]
Air MarshalPaul EvansCB, OStJ, QHP2012–2015[17]
Surgeon Vice AdmiralAlasdair WalkerCB, OBE, OStJ, QHS, FRCS2015–2018[18]
Air Vice-MarshalRichard BroadbridgeCB, QHS, FRAeS, FRCGP2017 (acting)[19]
Lieutenant GeneralMartin BricknellCB, QHP2018–2019[20]
Air Vice-MarshalAlastair ReidCB, QHP2019–2021 (acting)[21][5]
Major GeneralTimothy HodgettsCB, CBE, QHS, DL2021–[22]

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. "Senior Appointments". RAF. Retrieved 1 September 2020.
  8. "Surgeon Vice-Admiral Sir Godfrey Milton-Thompson". The Telegraph. 28 October 2012. Retrieved 31 May 2023.
  9. ‘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
  10. Letters to the Editor 15 March 2007 The Telegraph
  11. Gulf War Illnesses Archived 2011-10-09 at the Wayback Machine
  12. Winds of Destruction Archived 2009-01-05 at the Wayback Machine
  13. Lieutenant General RC Menzies (b. 1944) Kilmarnock Academy
  14. Obituary The Telegraph
  15. Louis Lillywhite MOD
  16. "Ministry of Defence: Defence Medical Services". Retrieved 2013-04-27.
  17. Defence Medical Services, Ministry of Defence
  18. "No. 61488". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 February 2016. p. 1994.
  19. "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.
  20. "No. 62610". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 April 2019. p. 6432.
  21. "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
  22. "No. 63358". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 May 2021. p. 9308.
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