Defence sources have given a rare glimpse into what goes on at RAF Sculthorpe, after Army medics parachuted a field hospital into action for the first time in more than a decade.
Exercise Serpent's Delivery set out to test the airborne capabilities of Colchester-based 16 Medical Regiment, which provides medical care to the Air Assault Task Force (AATF), the British Army's rapid reaction force.
Two tonnes of high-tech and lightweight medical equipment were dropped from an RAF C130 Hercules aircraft onto Sculthorpe on Monday.
The kit – including medical supplies, ranging from ultrasound scanners to saline drips, and practical equipment like generators and tents - was packed and despatched by specialist troops from RAF Brize Norton–based 47 Air Despatch Sqn, 13 Air Assault Support Regiment The Royal Logistic Corps. Within an hour of the equipment landing, the unit was set up and the medics were ready to receive casualties. The Medical Treatment Facility, as it's known in military parlance, includes a resuscitation suite, surgical table and intensive care bed.
Major Alex Woodward-Court, commanding officer of 19 Medical Squadron, said: 'It's important that the Air Assault Task Force's medical capability matches its military capability. If troops can parachute in to fight, then it's important that medical facilities can be deployed by parachute to treat any casualties.
This is a small facility but one that could make a real difference by giving casualties life-saving surgery as close as possible to the point of injury. We haven't done air despatch training like this in more than a decade, because it wasn't required for operations in Afghanistan.
It is an important demonstration of our specialist capabilities as we prepare for the next operational challenge.'
Operating department practitioner Cpl Suzie Vipond, 36 from Houghton-le-Spring in County Durham, said: 'As part of the field surgical team my job is to assist the surgeon during operations and we would be able to provide damage control surgery from this tent. The medical care we can provide is exactly the same as in an NHS hospital but we are trained and equipped to work in the field, which adds an extra element of complexity.'
16 Med Regt also provides medics to work alongside frontline units, providing first aid treatment at the point of injury. Combat medical technician Priv Brendan Mew, 24 from Australia, said: 'As a medic it gives a great sense of confidence to see the surgical capability that can be set up so quickly and so close to where combat operations are taking place.'
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here