Principal Medical Officer Explained

Principal Medical Officer (PMO) is a senior position in the Royal Army Medical Corps, the Royal Canadian Navy, the Army Medical Corps (India), NHS Scotland and the Irish Health Service Executive.[1]

The title was formerly used within the British National Health Service and the health services of former colonies. James McGrigor was appointed Principal Medical Officer of the Portuguese Army during the Peninsular War.[2] A position of Principal Medical Officer in the Crimea was established from 1854 to 1856 for the duration of the Crimean War.[3] Florence Nightingale made suggestions as to the duties of the post.[4]

The position still existed in England[5] and Wales[6] until the 1974 reorganisation. The title is still used in NHS Scotland.[7]

The St John Ambulance in England formerly had a Principal Medical Officer position. [8]

In Australia the position was the senior administrator of the Medical Department of each state from 1895, when it was created as part of the Colonial Secretary's Department, replacing the position of Colonial Surgeon, to 1911. The superintendents of hospitals reported to the Principal Medical Officer.[9] The position still exists within the Civil Aviation Safety Authority.[10]

The term is still used in Namibia.[11]

Notes and References

  1. News: Medical Officers, Eligibility Criteria . 2 June 2019 . HSE . 2018.
  2. News: Commemorative Plaques Record Details . 2 June 2019 . City of Aberdeen . 2019.
  3. News: Principal Medical Officer in the Crimea . 2 June 2019 . Wellcome Library . 21 May 2019.
  4. Book: Nightingale . Florence . The Crimean War:Notes on the Health of the British Army . 1858 . Wilfrid Laurier University Press . 665 . 2 June 2019. 9780889204690 .
  5. News: Rodney Wilkins, formerly Principal Medical Officer, Department of Health and Social Security, Alexander Fleming House, Elephant and Castle, London SEI . 2 June 2019 . Bulletin of the Royal College of Psychiatrists . March 1988.
  6. Web site: Welsh Board of Health and Welsh Office: Principal Medical Officer: Unregistered Files . National Archives . 2 June 2019.
  7. Web site: The restricted patients team . Scottish Government . 2 June 2019.
  8. News: Obituary: A. C. WHITE KNOX, C.B.E., M.C., M.B., Ch.B . 2 June 2019 . British Medical Journal . 25 November 1961.
  9. Web site: Principal Medical Officer (1895 - 1911) . Find and Connect . 2 June 2019.
  10. News: Vacancy Details . 2 June 2019 . CASA . January 2019.
  11. News: Dr. Mfutila Tsitukenina, Principal Medical Officer in Namibia . 2 June 2019 . Capacity Plus . 14 January 2014.

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