Military Healthcare Round-up: May 2012

on Jun 01 by admin

From transferring the Olympic Flame to opening new rehabilitation facilities, May has been a busy month for military medics in the UK.

 Search and Rescue in the news

May was a big month for Search and Rescue; members of the Navy SAR were responsible for transferring the Olympic Flame to Land’s End in order to start the UK Torch Relay. Meanwhile RAF SAR staff played a critical role in transferring a serious ill child to Great Ormond Street Hospital for emergency treatment, and Navy SAR were involved in a daring rescue to recover an injured fisherman stranded by poor weather conditions. 

Big developments for military medical centres

May also saw progress on many of the Armed Forces medical centre projects. 42 Commando celebrated the opening of a new medical centre at Bickleigh near Plymouth which will provide them with medical services including dental care and physiotherapy. Meanwhile in Colchester, military personnel gathered to celebrate the opening of the Help for Heroes-funded recovery centre which will provide rehabilitation to injured service men and women on both a residential and day-patient basis.

The Royal British Legion’s plans to install a state-of-the-art cinema at Headley Court rehabilitation centre were also given the green light this month.

£400,000 for Armed Forces mental health network

In other rehabilitation news, Big White Wall, the Armed Forces online mental health network, is to receive £400,000 to enable the service to continue providing 24/7 support for another three years. The funding for the project has been provided by the Department of Health and H4H.

Navy medic presented with Military Cross

A Navy medic who saved the lives of four colleagues by delivering emergency medicine while under fire was presented with the Military Cross at Buckingham Palace.

UHB hand surgeon presented with award

A soldier who was injured in Afghanistan has revisited Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham to thank the hand surgeon whose work has enabled him to return to active service. Captain Tom O’Boy of 40 Commando presented a special statuette to Mr Dominic Power, consultant hand surgeon at UHB.