Chief Medical Officers (United Kingdom) facts for kids

In the United Kingdom, a chief medical officer (CMO) is the most senior government advisor on matter relating to health. 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
• 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. The CMO has independent statutory authority, first established in the 19th century, to issue reports without requiring government approval.

Chief Medical Officers for England

Further information: National Health Service (England)

The historic post was created in Victorian times to help to prevent cholera and other 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.

• 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)
• Dame Sally Davies (June 2010–September 2019)
• Sir Chris Whitty (October 2019–present)

Deputies

• John Reid (1972 to 1977)
• Liz Shore (1977 to 1985)
• Michael Abrams (1985 to 1992)
• David Walker (2013 to 2015)
• John Watson (2013 to 2017)
• Gina Radford (2015 to 2019)
• Jenny Harries (July 2019 to March 2021)
• Sir Jonathan Van-Tam (October 2017–March 2022)
• Aidan Fowler (March 2020–present)
• Thomas Waite interim (May 2021–present)
• Jeanelle de Gruchy (September 2021 – present)
• Thomas Waite (April 2022 – present)

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, the Scottish Home and Health Department, the Scottish Executive Health Department and now the Scottish Government:

• J. B. McLintock (1894–1898)
• James Burn Russell (1898–1904)
• Sir Leslie Mackenzie (1904–1929)
• J. P. Kinloch (1929–1932)
• J. L. Brownlie (1932–1937)
• J. M. Mackintosh (1937–1941)
• Sir Andrew Davidson (1941–1954)
• Sir Kenneth Cowan (1954–1964)
• Sir John Brotherston (1964–1977)
• Sir John Reid (1977–1985)
• 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)
• 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

Further information: NHS Wales

The Welsh 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.

• 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 (August 2016 – present)

Chief Medical Officers for Northern Ireland

Further information: Health and Social Care in Northern Ireland

• William Richard Dawson (1922–1929) Chief Medical Officer of Ministry of Home Affairs, Northern Ireland
• Frank F. Main (1954–1968)
• Thomas Terence Baird (1973–1978)
• Bob Weir (1978–1986)
• James McKenna (1988–1995)
• Henrietta Campbell (1995–2006)
• Sir Michael McBride (2006–present)