Ninety London-based Army reservists have just begun training for their deployment to Afghanistan later this year.

Members of 256 (City of London) Field Hospital (Volunteers) will be providing clinical services and expertise in the British military hospital at Camp Bastion, when they take over from Danish colleagues in October.

For some of the reservists, this will be their second or third operational tour. As well as doctors, nurses, consultants and paramedics, an Electronics Engineer with Network Rail and a self-employed Carpenter will be part of the new deployed team. Fully trained for their Army roles - as Field Service Engineer and Combat Medical Technician respectively - they're a perfect example of how the TA allows its members to develop completely different skillsets.

Challenging and dangerous

In October, 256 will be exchanging London for an environment that is both challenging and dangerous - Helmand province. In readiness, they've just begun their pre-deployment preparations, which includes military, physical and, of course, clinical training ending with a final hospital exercise at the Royal Army Medical Corps' training facility in North Yorkshire. Here they will put their combined team skills to the test in an environment which closely represents the Camp Bastion hospital, complete with veteran actors portraying casualties featuring realistic special effects make-up.

Reputation for excellence

The Camp Bastion British Military Hospital they will be helping to run is a world-leading centre for trauma, providing emergency medicine, primary surgery, an Intensive Care Unit, general care beds, diagnostic support and a variety of clinical specialties.

It has a worldwide reputation for excellence in the management of the very seriously injured, meaning the number of soldiers who now survive life-threatening injuries is the best in recorded history. It is testament to the expertise of the medical staff involved, and these London-based reservists are looking forward to playing their part.