Chief Medical Officer (United Kingdom)

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For other uses, see Chief Medical Officer.

There are four Chief Medical Officers (CMO) in the United Kingdom who are appointed to advise their respective governments on health related matters: Her Majesty's Government, the Northern Ireland Executive, the Scottish Government and the Welsh Assembly Government. The CMO is the most senior advisor on health matters in each government, and each CMO is assisted by one or more Deputy Chief Medial Officers.

In England, the CMO is a member of the board of the National Health Service (NHS), a civil servant in the Department of Health, and head of the medical civil service. The Republic of Ireland has a similar officer.

The Chief Medical Officer is a qualified medical doctor whose specialty is in public health and in the health of communities, rather than health of individuals. The CMO is one of the six chief professional officers, one for each of six professions, who advise the government in their respective specialty.[1]

The equivalent U.S. term is Surgeon General. The term Surgeon General is also a used in the British Armed Forces for the head of medical services. In non-government organisations, such as policing, chief medical officer may refer to a senior medial post in the organisation. When appointed outside government the chief medical officer will often decide on physical and mental fitness to serve issues, and the role may not be in public health.

Contents

[edit] Chief Medical Officers for Her Majesty's Government

Further information: National Health Service (England)

The historic post was created in Victorian times to help to prevent cholera epidemics.[2] In 1969 the post of Chief Medical Officer for Wales was created, and prior to this both England and Wales were covered by the post of Chief Medical Officer of England and Wales.[3]

[edit] Chief Medical Officers for Scotland

Further information: NHS Scotland

Through various reorganisations, the CMOs for Scotland has been the chief medical officer in the Local Government Board for Scotland, Scottish Board of Health, Department of Health for Scotland, and the Scottish Home and Health Department:[3]

  • JB McLintock (1894 - 1898)
  • JB Russell (1898 - 1904)
  • Sir Leslie Mackenzie (1904 -1929)
  • JP Kinloch (1929 - 1932)
  • JL Brownlie (1932 - 1937)
  • JM Mackintosh (1937 - 1941)
  • Sir Andrew Davidson (1941 - 1954)
  • Sir Kenneth Cowan (1954 - 1964)
  • Sir John Brotherston (1964 - 1977)
  • Sir John Reid (1977 - 1985)
  • Dr Iain Macdonald 1985 - 1989
  • Prof Kenneth Calman 1989 - 1991
  • Dr Robert Kendell 1991 - 1996
  • Prof Sir David Carter 1996 - 2000
  • Dr Ernest Macalpine ("Mac") Armstrong 2000 - 2005
  • Dr Harry Burns 2005 - current[4]

[edit] Chief Medical Officers for Wales

Further information: NHS Wales

The Welsh regional post was created in 1969, prior to this there was one post for both England and Wales, the Chief Medical Officer for England and Wales.[3]

  • Dr Richard Bevan 1969 - 1977
  • Prof Gareth Crompton 1978 - 1989
  • Dame Deirdre Hine 1990 - 1997
  • Dr Ruth Hall 1997 - 2006
  • Dr Tony Jewell 18 April 2006 - present

[edit] Chief Medical Officers for Northern Ireland

Further information: Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland
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  • Dr Henrietta Campbell
  • Dr Michael McBride 2006- present

[edit] See also

[edit] References

  1. ^ Chief professional officers. Department of Health (UK). Retrieved on 4 December 2007.
  2. ^ a b Chief Medical Officer: biography. Department of Health, United Kingdom (2007). Retrieved on 15 August 2007.
  3. ^ a b c Warren, Michael D. A Chronology of State Medicine, Public Health, Welfare and Related Services in Britain 1066-1999 302-304. Royal College of Physicians of England. Retrieved on 28 October 2007.
  4. ^ The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland. The Scottish Government, Health & Community Care (2007). Retrieved on 28 October 2007.