Defence Medical Services: A Strategy for the Future

Changes in the medical contributon to operations

The SDR recognised the weakness in the amount of medical support we could provide for operations overseas. A major programme of investment was announced, including an extra £140M over the next four years to rectify the deficiencies.

The implementation of this programme is now well in hand. As a first step we have doubled the size of the medical cell in the Permanent Joint Headquarters to provide immediate operational advice to Commanders. We are also developing the doctrine to allow best use of new equipment and new techniques.

Summarising the equipment enhancements announced in July we are:

• upgrading the medical facilities in Royal Fleet Auxiliary ship ARGUS during her refit in 2000
• acquiring, by 2005, a Primary Casualty Receiving Ship capability based on two 220-bed capacity ships; one to be at high readiness, the other at low readiness. Our working assumption is that both requirements will be met through Public Private Partnership or Private Finance Initiative arrangements
• transferring the air mobile field ambulance unit into the new air assault brigade by 2000
• forming three new ambulance squadrons by 2005
• creating an extra air evacuation flight by 2001
• increasing the number of aeromedical escort flights
• increasing the investment in the Surgeon General's new information strategy.