Chief Medical Officers (United Kingdom)

{{Short description|Senior UK government health advisors}} {{Use British English|date=October 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}} In the United Kingdom, a '''chief medical officer''' ('''CMO''') is the most senior government advisor on matter relating to health.<ref name=JPH-202501>{{cite journal |title=Chief medical officers in the United Kingdom: maintaining 'independence' inside government | first1=Katherine E |last1=Smith |first2=Anna |last2=Macintyre |first3=Margaret |last3=MacAulay |first4=Patrick |last4=Fafard| journal=Journal of Public Health |volume=47 |issue=1|date=March 2025 |pages=54-61 |doi=10.1093/pubmed/fdae278 |pmid=39475048|pmc=11879052 }}</ref> There are four chief medical officers in the United Kingdom who are appointed to advise their respective governments: * His Majesty's Government (CMO for England and medical advisor to the United Kingdom government) * Scottish Government<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/17914/10696 |title=Chief Medical Officer (CMO) |publisher=Scottish Government |access-date=2 July 2014 |archive-date=14 July 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714183140/http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Health/NHS-Scotland/17914/10696 |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Welsh Government * Northern Ireland Executive

Each CMO is assisted by one or more deputy chief medical officers, and complemented by a chief nursing officer.

The chief medical officer is a qualified medical doctor whose medical speciality traditionally was public health medicine, and whose work focused on the health of communities rather than health of individuals. More recently, some appointees have been senior clinicians without training in public health medicine. In the UK, the CMO is one of the chief professional officers who advise the government in their respective health and social care disciplines.<ref name = "6 cpo"> {{cite web | url =http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/Chiefprofessionalofficers/index.htm | publisher = Department of Health (UK) | title = Chief professional officers |archive-url=https://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20130107105354/http://dh.gov.uk/health/about-us/people/cpo/ | archive-date=7 January 2013 |access-date = 27 December 2016 }}</ref> The CMO has independent statutory authority, first established in the 19th century, to issue reports without requiring government approval.<ref name=jech-202201>{{cite journal |url=https://jech.bmj.com/content/76/1/100 |title=Under the spotlight: understanding the role of the Chief Medical Officer in a pandemic |vauthors=MacAulay M, Macintyre AK, Yashadhana A, etal |journal=Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health |volume=76 |issue=1|date=January 2022 |pages=100–104 |doi=10.1136/jech-2021-216850 |pmid=34407995 |pmc=8666819 |access-date=17 December 2021}}</ref>

== Chief Medical Officers for England == {{see|National Health Service (England)}} The historic post was created in Victorian times to help to prevent cholera and other epidemics.<ref name="gov LD"> {{cite web |url=http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/ChiefMedicalOfficer/AboutTheChiefMedicalOfficerCMO/DH_4104061 |title=Chief Medical Officer: biography |publisher=Department of Health (UK) |year=2007 |access-date=15 August 2007 }}</ref> 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.<ref name = "RCP 1066-1999"/> * Sir John Simon (1855–1876) * Edward Cator 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 MacNalty (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–May 2010)<ref name="gov LD"/><ref name="DofH">{{cite web|url=http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Aboutus/MinistersandDepartmentLeaders/Departmentdirectors/Theseniorteam/DH_083897 |title=The Senior Team |publisher=Department of Health|date=12 March 2010}}</ref> * Dame Sally Davies (June 2010–September 2019)<ref name="SallyDavies">{{cite web|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/sally-davies |title=Professor Dame Sally C Davies |publisher=Department of Health|access-date=18 May 2014}}</ref> * Sir Chris Whitty (October 2019–present)<ref>{{cite web |title=New chief medical officer appointed |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-chief-medical-officer-appointed |work=GOV.UK |publisher=Department of Health and Social Care |access-date=10 October 2019 |date=14 June 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|website=gov.uk|title=Professor Chris Whitty|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/christopher-whitty|access-date=11 January 2023}}</ref>

=== Deputies === * George Godber (1950 to 1960)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/4583311/Sir-George-Godber.html|title=Sir George Godber|date=10 February 2009|publisher=|accessdate=28 June 2019|via=telegraph.co.uk}}</ref> * Albertine Winner (to 1967) * Henry Yellowlees (1967 to 1973) * John Reid (1972 to 1977)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Obituary: Sir John Reid|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-sir-john-reid-1413989.html|access-date=2021-04-09|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref> * Liz Shore (1977 to 1985)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr Liz Shore|url= https://www.theguardian.com/society/2022/mar/18/dr-liz-shore-obituary|access-date=2022-03-20|website=guardian.com|date= 18 March 2022|language=en}}</ref> * E L Harris (1977 to 1989)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/edmund-leslie-harris|title=Edmund Leslie Harris}}</ref> * Ronald Oliver (1985 to 1989) * Michael Abrams (1985 to 1992)<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michael Abrams obituary|url= https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/aug/19/michael-abrams-obituary|access-date=2022-05-02|website=guardian.com|date= 19 August 2019|language=en}}</ref> * Diana Walford (1989 to 1992) * Jeremy Metters (1989 to 1999)<ref>{{cite web|title=Obituaries Jeremy Metters: former deputy chief medical officer and England’s last HM inspector of anatomy|url=https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n69}}</ref> * Graham Winyard (1993 to 1999) * Patricia Troop (1999 to 2003) * Sheila Adam (1999 to 2002) * Aidan Halligan (2003 to 2007)<ref>{{cite web|title=Aidan William Francis Halligan|url=https://history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/aidan-william-francis-halligan}}</ref> * Fiona Adshead (2004 to 2009) * David Walker (2013 to 2015)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Professor David Walker|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/david-walker--2|access-date=2021-04-09|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref> * John Watson (2013 to 2017)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Professor John Watson|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/john-watson|access-date=2021-04-09|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref> * Gina Radford (2015 to 2019)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Professor Gina Radford|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/gina-radford|access-date=2021-04-09|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref> * Dame Jenny Harries (July 2019 – March 2021)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dr Jenny Harries OBE|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jenny-harries|access-date=2020-12-09|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref> * Sir Jonathan Van-Tam (October 2017 – March 2022)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Professor Jonathan Van-Tam|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/jonathan-van-tam|access-date=2020-12-09|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref> * Aidan Fowler (March 2020 – present)<ref>{{Cite web|title=Dr Aidan Fowler|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/people/aidan-fowler|access-date=2020-12-09|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref> * Thomas Waite ''interim'' (May 2021 – April 2022)<ref>{{Cite web|date=13 May 2021|title=New interim deputy chief medical officer for England announced|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-interim-deputy-chief-medical-officer-for-england-announced|url-status=live|access-date=2021-07-30|website=GOV.UK|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210513140133/https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-interim-deputy-chief-medical-officer-for-england-announced |archive-date=13 May 2021 }}</ref> * Jeanelle de Gruchy (September 2021 – present)<ref>{{Cite web|title=New body to tackle health disparities will launch 1 October, co-headed by new DCMO|url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-body-to-tackle-health-disparities-will-launch-1-october-co-headed-by-new-dcmo--2|access-date=2021-09-03|website=GOV.UK|language=en}}</ref> * Thomas Waite (April 2022 – present)<ref>{{Cite web |title=New Deputy Chief Medical Officer for England announced |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/new-deputy-chief-medical-officer-for-england-announced |access-date=2022-04-14 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

== Chief Medical Officers for Scotland == {{see|NHS Scotland}} Through various reorganisations, the CMOs for Scotland has been the chief medical officer in the Local Government Board for Scotland, medical member of the Scottish Board of Health, Department of Health for Scotland, the Scottish Home and Health Department, the Scottish Executive Health Department and now the Scottish Government:<ref name = "RCP 1066-1999">{{cite web |url = http://www.fph.org.uk/uploads/r_chronology_of_state_medicine.pdf |publisher = Royal College of Physicians of England |title = A Chronology of State Medicine, Public Health, Welfare and Related Services in Britain 1066–1999 |first = Michael D |last = Warren |pages = 302–304 |access-date = 18 May 2014 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150924015045/http://www.fph.org.uk/uploads/r_chronology_of_state_medicine.pdf |archive-date = 24 September 2015 |url-status = dead }}</ref> * J. B. McLintock (1894–1898) * James Burn Russell (1898–1904)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.theglasgowstory.com/image/?inum=TGSA00200 |title=James B Russell |work=The Glasgow Story |access-date=29 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://universitystory.gla.ac.uk/biography/?id=WH16095&type=P |title=James Burn Russell |publisher=University of Glasgow |access-date=29 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://catalog.hathitrust.org/Record/001581637 |title=Public health administration in Glasgow; a memorial volume of the writings of James Burn Russell|work=HathiTrust Digital Library |access-date=29 May 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.euppublishing.com/doi/abs/10.3366/sesh.1999.19.2.174 |title=EDNA ROBERTSON, Glasgow's Doctor: James Burn Russell, 1837-1904 (review) |journal=Scottish Economic & Social History |date=November 1999 |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=174–176 |publisher=EU Publishing|doi=10.3366/sesh.1999.19.2.174 |access-date=29 May 2016|last1=Smith |first1=David F. |url-access=subscription }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/4420 |title=Glasgow's Doctor: James Burn Russell, MOH, 1837-1904 (review) |year=2000 |publisher=Johns Hopkins University |doi=10.1353/bhm.2000.0025 |access-date=29 May 2016|last1=Lawrence |first1=Christopher |journal=Bulletin of the History of Medicine |volume=74 |page=171 |s2cid=71853151 |url-access=subscription }}</ref> * Sir W. Leslie Mackenzie (1904–1929) * J. P. Kinloch (1929–1932) * J. L. Brownlie (1932–1937) * J. M. Mackintosh (1937–1941)<ref>{{cite web|title=james macalister mackintosh|url=https://history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/james-macalister-mackintosh}}</ref> * Sir Andrew Davidson (1941–1954) * Sir Kenneth Cowan (1954–1964) * Sir John Brotherston (1964–1977)<ref>{{cite web|title=sir john howie flint brotherston|url=https://history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/sir-john-howie-flint-brotherston}}</ref> * Sir John Reid (1977–1985)<ref>{{cite web|title=sir john james andrew reid|url=https://history.rcp.ac.uk/inspiring-physicians/sir-john-james-andrew-reid}}</ref> * Iain Macdonald (1985–1989) * Sir Kenneth Calman (1989–1991) * Robert Kendell (1991–1996) * Sir David Carter (1996–2000) * Ernest Macalpine ("Mac") Armstrong (2000–2005) * Sir Harry Burns (2005–2014)<ref name="Scot gov"> {{cite web |url = http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Sir-Harry-Burns-881.aspx |title = Sir Harry Burns |publisher = The Scottish Government, Health & Community Care |date = 23 January 2014 |access-date = 18 May 2014 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20150619234251/http://news.scotland.gov.uk/News/Sir-Harry-Burns-881.aspx |archive-date = 19 June 2015}}</ref> * Aileen Keel (2014–2015; acting) * Catherine Calderwood (2015–2020) * Sir Gregor Smith (2020–present; acting until 23 December 2020, thereafter permanent)

== Chief Medical Officers for Wales == {{see|NHS Wales}} The Welsh post<ref>{{cite web |url=http://wales.gov.uk/topics/health/cmo/?lang=en |title=Health and social care: Chief Medical Officer |publisher=Welsh Government |access-date=2 July 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141110234325/http://wales.gov.uk/topics/health/cmo/?lang=en |archive-date=10 November 2014}}</ref> was created in 1969. Prior to this there was one post for both England and Wales, the Chief Medical Officer for England and Wales.<ref name = "RCP 1066-1999"/> * Richard Bevan (1969–1977) * Gareth Crompton (1978–1989) * Dame Deirdre Hine (1990–1997) * Ruth Hall (1997–2005) * David Salter (July 2005–April 2006; acting) * Tony Jewell (April 2006 – 2012) * Ruth Hussey (2012–2016) * Chris Jones (March–July 2016; acting) * Sir Frank Atherton (2016–2025) * Professor Isabel Oliver (2025–present)<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 January 2025 |title=Leadership changes at UKHSA |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/news/leadership-changes-at-ukhsa |access-date=2025-06-10 |website=GOV.UK |language=en}}</ref>

== Chief Medical Officers for Northern Ireland == {{see|Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland}} {{Incomplete list|date=August 2008}} * William Richard Dawson (1922–1929) Chief Medical Officer of Ministry of Home Affairs, Northern Ireland<ref>Western Daily Press, Bristol, 30 October 1950; Bath Wills: British Medical Journal 1950 Obituary</ref> * Frank F. Main (1954–1968) * Thomas Terence Baird (1973–1978)<ref name="hscni.net">{{cite web|url=https://www.publichealth.hscni.net/sites/default/files/Fourdecades.pdf|title=Four Decades of Public Health : Northern Ireland's health boards 1973 – 2009|publisher=Public Health Agency NI|access-date=4 October 2018}}</ref> * Bob Weir (1978–1986)<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.newulsterbiography.co.uk/index.php/home/viewPerson/1780|title=The Dictionary of Ulster Biography|work=New Ulster Biography|access-date=20 April 2016}}</ref> * James McKenna (1988–1995)<ref name="hscni.net"/> * Henrietta Campbell (1995–2006) * Sir Michael McBride (2006–present)

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [http://nhshistory.net/cmoa.html Chief Medical Officers]

United Kingdom Category:Government occupations Category:Government of Northern Ireland Category:Government of Scotland Category:Government of Wales Category:Health in the United Kingdom Category:Administrators in the National Health Service Category:Public health in the United Kingdom