Chief Medical Officer (United Kingdom)

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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.

Contents

Chief Medical Officers of England

Further information: National Health Service

The historic post was created in Victorian times to help to prevent cholera epidemics.[1] 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.[2]

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:[2]

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.[2]

Chief Medical Officers for Northern Ireland

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

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 Chief Medical Officer: biography. Department of Health, United Kingdom (2007). Retrieved on 15 August 2007.
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 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.
  3. The Chief Medical Officer for Scotland. The Scottish Government, Health & Community Care (2007). Retrieved on 28 October 2007.

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Some of the initial content on this page may be incorporated in part from copyleft sources in the public domain including wikis such as Wikipedia and AskDrWiki. Drug information for patients came from the The National Library of Medicine. Infectious disease information may have come from the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Differential Diagnoses are drawn from clinicians as well as an amalgamation of 3 sources: 1.The Disease Database; 2. Kahan, Scott, Smith, Ellen G. In A Page: Signs and Symptoms. Malden, Massachusetts: Blackwell Publishing, 2004:3; 3. Sailer, Christian, Wasner, Susanne. Differential Diagnosis Pocket. Hermosa Beach, CA: Borm Bruckmeir Publishing LLC, 2002:7 .