Defence Medical Services
There are over 7,000 regular uniformed medical personnel from all three Services known collectively as Defence Medical Services (DMS).
The DMS is comprised of Headquarters Surgeon General (HQ SG), Joint Medical Command (JMC), Defence Dental Services (DDS) and the three single Service medical organisations.
The headquarters of the DMS is Headquarters Surgeon General (HQ SG). The DMS and HQ SG is involved in a number of defence medical projects, initiatives, campaigns and policy areas.
The Surgeon General (SG) :
Role
SG is the most senior serving medical officer and the spokesperson for professional medical expertise within Defence. As end-to-end process owner for healthcare, he is responsible for the practice and development of military medicine and quality and standards of clinical capability within the Defence Medical Services, for providing advice on maximising physical and mental well being, and for ensuring, via clinical governance mechanisms and an inspectorate, the delivery of end-to-end healthcare. He reports to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff and attends the Defence Operating Board as required.
Responsibilities
SG is responsible for
- Setting the overall direction and policy on all clinical matters relating to the practice of medicine within the military;
- Setting and auditing the professional performance of all medical personnel;
- Setting clinical and medical policies and standards, and auditing compliance by military organisations across Defence;
- Developing the science of military medicine to develop approaches and treatments that will best counter threats to the health and well being of Service personnel.
The Deputy Chief of Defence Staff (Health) (DCDS(H)):
Role
DCDS(H) is responsible for setting the strategy and its associated policies for the Defence Medical Services (DMS). He reports to the Vice Chief of the Defence Staff. He is the Senior Responsible Owner for the Defence Health Change Programme.
Responsibilities
DCDS(H) is responsible for/as:
- Implementing the Defence Health Programme;
- Providing deployable medical capability;
- Leading on all aspects of the health and healthcare of Service personnel;
- Building and maintaining the medical infrastructure and cadre of people;
- Delivering a comprehensive healthcare system that provides the appropriate timely healthcare to Service (and other entitled) personnel;
- Ensuring that the medical research strategy is coherent with wider research strategy, including the Defence Industrial Strategy and NHS research strategies;
- Ensuring coherence of health plans between Defence and the NHS;
- Development of effective practices to prevent unnecessary injuries and avoidable ill health.
DMS staff currently work in Ministry of Defence Hospital Units, Military run Departments of Community Mental Health and Regional Rehabilitation Units across the country.