Chief Medical Officer (United Kingdom)

There are four Chief Medical Officers (CMO) in the United Kingdom who regularly advises 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 the term has also found some usage in non-government circles such as policing. The CMOs are 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 duties will not include treatment but typically only advise on matters such as public health matters. When appointed outside government the chief medical officer will often decide on physical and mental fitness to serve issues.

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.

Chief Medical Officers of England
The historic post was created in Victorian times to help to prevent cholera epidemics. 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.
 * Dr William Duncan 1847 - 1855 (the first CMO for the UK)
 * Sir John Simon 1855 - 1876
 * Dr Edward Cater Seaton 1876 - 1879
 * Sir George Buchanan 1879 - 1892
 * Sir Richard Thorne-Thorne 1892 - 1899
 * Sir William Henry Power 1900 - 1908
 * Sir Arthur Newsholme 1908 - 1919
 * Sir George Newman 1919 - 1935
 * Sir Arthur McNalty 1935 - 1940
 * Sir Wilson Jameson 1940 - 1950
 * Sir John Charles 1950 - 1960
 * Sir George Godber 1960 - 1973
 * Sir Henry Yellowlees 1973 - 1984
 * Sir Donald Acheson 1984 - 1991
 * Sir Kenneth Calman 1991 - 1998
 * Sir Liam Donaldson 1998 - Present

Chief Medical Officers for 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:


 * 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

Chief Medical Officers for 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.
 * Dr Richard Bevan 1969 - 1977
 * Prof Gareth Crompton 1978 - 1989
 * Dame Deirdre Hine 1990 - 1997
 * Dr Ruth Hall 1997 - 2006
 * Dr Tony Jewell 2006 - present

Chief Medical Officers for Northern Ireland

 * Dr Henrietta Campbell
 * Dr Michael McBride 2006- present