Anyone who has read historical naval fiction has heard about the drunken or drug dependent surgeons that have been heralded through fiction.  Well they really did exist, at least at the beginning of the conflict with France.  Surgeons in the Royal Navy were not necessarily medical doctors, but someone who had served an apprenticeship and passed a oral exam given by Surgeon's Hall in London by the Company of Barber-Surgeon.  Then a warrant would be issued by the Navy Board.  If overseas, he could be examined by the Surgeon of the Fleet, or a physician and senior surgeon of the hospital and three surgeons of the fleet.  He would then serve as a surgeon's mate for a period before being appointed full surgeon.

Surgeons, at the start of the war were required to supply their own equipment and drugs.  Later, in 1804 all drugs were supplied by the navy.  They also were not allowed initially to go on half pay in 1793, but then senior surgeons were allowed half pay status.  By 1805 things had changed substantially and all surgeons enjoyed half pay privileges and were receiving pay of 11 s per day.  In 1793, they received £5 per month.  By the end of the war in 1815 the pay range had increased from £14 to £25.4 per month.  They were also allotted £11 8s. per year for a servant.

The surgeon was in charge of the sick and hurt seamen on board ship.  He performed surgical operation when necessary, administer medicines and administered to the patients.  He was also responsible for the general health of the ships crew.

1st rates and hospital ships also had Physicians.  These were medical doctors who were the best the navy had to offer.  Their pay was substantially higher, £28 in 1793 and up to £44.2 per month in 1815.
All surgeons and physicians were forbidden from having private patients.

Those assigned to assist the Surgeon were initially called Surgeon's Mates, until 1805 when they became Assistant Surgeon.  They were members of the Midshipmen's Mess.  There was up to 5 qualified mates (in 1793) on  a ship depending on the size and could be a larger number of unqualified mates..  All ships had at least 1 qualified mate, the 4th and 5th rates having 2, the 3rd rates had 3, 2nd rates had four and 1st rates had 5 mates.  By 1815, that had been cut down to a maximum of 3 qualified mates.

The pay rates in 1793 were a maximum of £2.10 with a low of £1.10 per month.  By 1815 all qualified mates were paid £9.2 while unqualified assistants were paid £7 per month on a 1st or 2nd rate and £5.12 on a 3rd rate.