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 twentieth 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). 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.
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.
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).
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". It had always been held by a three-star military medical officer; 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). 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.
Subsequently, a serving military medical officer, Air Marshal Clare Walton, was appointed to the three-star post of Director General Defence Medical Services, retitled Chief of Defence Medical on the creation of the Defence Medical Command.The post of Surgeon General has remained a two-star position.
As of 2024, the responsibilities of the DGDMS include: 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.
Following the publication of the 2025 Strategic Defence Review the responsibilities of the Surgeon General of the UK Armed Forces were listed as: Providing specialist health and medical support advice to the Military Strategic Headquarters on behalf of the Director General of the Defence Medical Services. Force Design within the Defence Medical Services, ensuring the readiness of the medical capability supporting the Armed Forces. Directing medical research, medical innovation, and continuous quality improvement in Defence. Coordinating international technical engagement with medical partners across NATO and the UK’s broader alliances.
Previously, the responsibilities of the UK Surgeon General had been listed as:
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. 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, *co-ordination of strategic DMS Defence Engagement and directing continuous clinical quality improvement in Defence.
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 Lieutenant General Sir Cameron Moffat 1985–1988 Surgeon Vice Admiral Sir Godfrey Milton-Thompson 1988–1990 Air Marshal Sir Nigel Mills 1990–1991‘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 Lieutenant General Sir Peter Beale 1991–1994Letters to the Editor 15 March 2007 The Telegraph Surgeon Vice Admiral Anthony Revell 1994–1997Gulf War Illnesses Air Marshal Sir John Baird 1997–2000 Lieutenant General Robert Menzies 2000–2002 Surgeon Vice Admiral Ian Jenkins 2002–2006Obituary The Telegraph Lieutenant General Louis Lillywhite 2006–2009Louis Lillywhite MOD Surgeon Vice Admiral Philip Raffaelli 2009–2012 Air Marshal Paul Evans 2012–2015 Surgeon Vice Admiral Alasdair Walker 2015–2018 Air Vice-Marshal Richard Broadbridge 2017 (acting) Lieutenant General Martin Bricknell 2018–2019 Air Vice-Marshal Alastair Reid 2019–2021 Major General Timothy Hodgetts 2021–2024 Major General Philip McNee KHP 2024–2025 Major General Phil Carter KHP 2025–
References
External links Defence Medical Services – HQ Surgeon General/ Director General Defence Medical Services