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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
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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 Majesty's Naval Service"; thenceforward surgeons-general were styled surgeon rear-admirals and deputy
125:
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
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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,
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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.
240:
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
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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
250:
directing medical research and medical innovation in
Defence, the co-ordination of strategic DMS defence engagement and directing continuous clinical quality improvement in defence.
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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
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219:, 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.
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the senior technical authority for defence medicine, including prevention, detection, treatment, and recovery from the full spectrum of illness and injury.
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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
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basis by individual regiments). In
Ireland, a Physician-General was appointed in 1660, and a Surgeon-General in 1661. In 1664 the King's
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1267:‘MILLS, Air Marshal Sir Nigel (Holroyd)’, Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2008; online edn, Oxford University Press, Dec 2007
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strategic advice on defence medical doctrine, concepts, capability planning, force development and lessons.
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In 1985, as part of a move toward greater co-ordination between the medical departments of the three
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90:. Currently, it pertains to a senior uniformed medical officer, working under the Director General
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authority). The rank of deputy surgeon-general was also introduced, although it was redesignated
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in the Army
Medical Department (and, briefly, in the Royal Navy). Having lapsed after the
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Defence
Medical Services – HQ Surgeon General/ Director General Defence Medical Services
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being the functional lead for medical and healthcare within the
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1114:"Peter Homa appointed as New Director General Defence Medical Services"
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Peter Homa appointed as New Director General Defence Medical Services
147:, except for the most senior surgeon-general, who was redesignated a
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1025:
The Orders in Council for Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. XII
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The Orders in Council for Regulation of the Naval Service. Vol. X
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The Records of the War Office and Related Departments, 1660–1964
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Subsequently, a serving military medical officer, Air Marshal
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Defence Medical Services#List of Directors General since 2019
1535:"Announcement of Brigadier Philip McNee as Surgeon General"
1218:"Announcement of Brigadier Philip McNee as Surgeon General"
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leading the transformation of the Defence Medical Services
191:
Latterly, the role was described as "professional head of
1027:. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. 1926. pp. 422–423.
1012:. London: Eyre and Spottiswoode. 1914. pp. 197–198.
222:
As of 2024, the responsibilities of the DGDMS include:
254:
236:
The responsibilities of the Surgeon General include:
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For Directors General Defence Medical Services, see
1243:"Surgeon Vice-Admiral Sir Godfrey Milton-Thompson"
22:Surgeon General of the United Kingdom Armed Forces
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1486:"Joint Forces Command senior, as of March 2019"
1382:"Ministry of Defence: Defence Medical Services"
997:(Supplement). 17 September 1918. p. 11141.
208:). Under Peter Homa as DGDMS, Air Vice-Marshal
164:surgeons-general were styled surgeon captains.
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1080:
1580:Surgeons-General of the British Armed Forces
1428:(Supplement). 2 February 2016. p. 1994.
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1042:"Moffat, Sir Cameron William (1929 - 2014)"
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946:
944:
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1446:. Oxford University Press. 1 December 2020
1492:. UK Ministry of Defence. 28 October 2020
1474:(Supplement). 9 April 2019. p. 6432.
1088:"Defence Medical Services head appointed"
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202:Director General Defence Medical Services
1523:(Supplement). 25 May 2021. p. 9308.
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1502:AVM Alastair Reid Acting Surgeon General
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1008:"Admiralty Order in Council No. 137".
186:Director General Army Medical Services
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1023:"Admiralty Order in Council No. 48".
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34:Ministry of Defence tri-Service Badge
1046:Royal College of Surgeons of England
957:. Kew, Surrey: Public Record Office.
1269:Who was Who, accessed 26 April 2011
255:List of Surgeons-General since 1985
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14:
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1193:"Air Marshal Clare Walton CB KHP"
1168:"Air Marshal Clare Walton CB KHP"
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977:. 28 August 1891. p. 4615.
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953:Roper, Michael (1998).
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128:Army Medical Department
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1316:"Winds of Destruction"
1073:. Ministry of Defence.
200:, whose job title was
1280:Letters to the Editor
1120:. London. 4 July 2019
1094:. Ministry of Defence
119:Physician-in-Ordinary
728:Surgeon Vice Admiral
653:Surgeon Vice Admiral
557:Surgeon Vice Admiral
441:Surgeon Vice Admiral
178:British Armed Forces
88:British Armed Forces
1322:on January 5, 2009.
1147:Friends of Millbank
780:Richard Broadbridge
50:since May 2024
1520:The London Gazette
1471:The London Gazette
1425:The London Gazette
1302:2011-10-09 at the
1297:Gulf War Illnesses
994:The London Gazette
974:The London Gazette
819:Lieutenant General
605:Lieutenant General
523:Lieutenant General
406:Lieutenant General
288:Sir Cameron Moffat
283:Lieutenant General
149:lieutenant-general
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1515:"No. 63358"
1466:"No. 62610"
1420:"No. 61488"
989:"No. 30906"
969:"No. 26196"
694:Air Marshal
561:Ian Jenkins
475:Air Marshal
363:Air Marshal
1564:Categories
1496:3 November
1387:2013-04-27
936:References
911:2021–2024
868:2019–2021
841:2018–2019
771:2015–2018
723:2012–2015
698:Paul Evans
689:2009–2012
648:2006–2009
600:2002–2006
552:2000–2002
518:1997–2000
470:1994–1997
436:1991–1994
400:1990–1991
357:1988–1990
320:1985–1988
198:Peter Homa
155:Royal Navy
74:The title
130:in 1810.
43:Incumbent
1351:Obituary
1300:Archived
1227:26 March
1202:26 March
1177:26 March
1152:26 March
1051:26 March
325:Surgeon
241:pathway.
1450:25 June
1098:31 July
63:Website
1539:GOV.UK
1406:GOV.UK
1253:31 May
1222:GOV.UK
1197:GOV.UK
1172:GOV.UK
1124:4 July
1092:GOV.UK
1071:GOV.UK
929:2024–
114:ad hoc
103:Office
1143:(PDF)
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859:,
834:
832:,
807:FRCGP
805:
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800:FRAeS
798:
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764:
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748:,
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709:
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675:
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641:
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634:
632:,
627:
625:,
620:
618:,
593:
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586:
584:,
579:
577:,
572:
570:,
545:
543:,
538:
536:,
513:FRCPE
511:
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506:FRAeS
504:
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497:
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490:
488:,
463:
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456:
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422:
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393:
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388:FRCGP
386:
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379:
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350:
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343:
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313:
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306:
304:,
299:
297:,
206:DGDMS
1498:2020
1452:2021
1255:2023
1229:2024
1204:2024
1179:2024
1154:2024
1126:2019
1100:2019
1053:2024
766:FRCS
752:OStJ
711:OStJ
684:FRCP
670:CStJ
643:FRCP
629:CStJ
595:FRCS
581:CStJ
465:FRCA
431:FRCP
395:FRCP
352:FRCP
315:FRCS
301:CStJ
271:Name
268:Rank
134:Rank
121:and
98:Army
80:rank
1370:MOD
925:KHP
899:QHS
892:CBE
863:QHP
836:QHP
793:QHS
759:QHS
745:OBE
718:QHP
677:QHP
636:QHP
622:MBE
588:QHS
574:CVO
547:QHS
540:OBE
499:QHS
485:KBE
458:QHS
424:QHP
417:KBE
381:QHP
374:KBE
345:QHP
338:KBE
308:QHS
294:KBE
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