§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence which(a) regular and (b) reserve personnel of the Defence Medical Services broken down by specialty have been deployed to Afghanistan in support of (i) Operation Fingal and (ii) Operation Jacuna; what percentage of UK forces deployed on each operation this represents; and if he will make a statement. [51422]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 24 April 2002]: The details of the personnel from the Defence Medical Services (DMS) deployed in Afghanistan are contained in the table. The majority of these personnel are members of 34 Field Hospital, which serves all United Kingdom personnel in Afghanistan, although 59 are dedicated to Operation Fingal. DMS personnel account for between 6 and 7 per cent. of the total UK forces in Afghanistan.
Specialty Regular Reserve Total Staff Officer 6 — 6 Surgeon 4 — 4 Consultant Accident and Emergency 2 — 2 Consultant Anesthetist 4 1 5 Consultant Physician 1 — 1 Medical Officer 15 — 15 Registered General Nurse 39 2 41 Combat Medical Technician 30 — 30 Medical Assistants 19 — 19 Health Care Assistant 4 — 4 Operating Department Practitioner 10 — 10 Dental Officer 3 — 3 Dental Surgery Assistant 2 — 2 Environmental Health Officer 1 — 1 Environmental Health Technician 5 — 5 Radiographer 2 — 2 Laboratory Technician 2 — 2 Pharmacy Technician 2 — 2 Physiotherapist 2 — 2 Community Psychiatric Nurse 4 — 4 Others 11 — 11 Total 168 3 171
§ Mr. KeetchTo ask the Secretary of State for Defence what arrangements exist for the medical treatment of UK personnel undertaking(a) Operation Fingal and (b) Operation Jacuna, stating in each case the level of support from (i) the UK Defence Medical Services in Afghanistan, (ii) the Defence Medical Services of other 731W nations deployed in Afghanistan, (iii) medical services based in the UK and (iv) medical services based in other countries; and if he will make a statement. [51423]
§ Dr. Moonie[holding answer 24 April 2002]: There is a robust medical infrastructure in place to support United Kingdom forces in Afghanistan. Primary health care facilities are available at the unit level and are supported by 34 Field Hospital at Bagram airfield.
Where individuals require evacuation from theatre they are moved using tactical and strategic RAF aeromedical evacuation assets to a UK field hospital in the region and then on to the Centre for Defence Medicine, in Birmingham or other specialist hospitals in the UK, as required.
As a means of making sensible use of international medical facilities in Afghanistan, UK forces deployed in the country may also use the Czech Field Hospital. UK personnel serving with the International Security Assistance Force may additionally have access to the German Field Hospital and French Dressing Station in Kabul. German and French tactical aeromedical aircraft are also available for evacuation from Afghanistan. In certain circumstances, the United States may provide medical care or aeromedical assistance to Operation Jacana forces.
Other nations may also make their medical facilities available to us from time to time.