HCR Medical Centre by Maj W D Wall
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012 proved to be a busy year for the medical centre at HCR. As well as providing continuous medical support to the regiment in camp there have been numerous exercises, ranges and training to support throughout the year. We have also seen several new arrivals with LSgt Bowness, LCpl John and Pte Masters joining the medical centre and said goodbye to LSgt Gbedebu who left the army to work as a civilian medic. In addition to the military staff, Mrs Jo McNamara the receptionist and Miss Lynn Turner the physiotherapist have both worked hard during the year to provide continuity and care while the regiment has been away. Although it is tempting to use this article to divulge all the interesting and sometimes amusing medical conundrums thrown up by Household Cavalry soldiers (….and officers) I will do my best to maintain medical confidentiality throughout. On a day to day basis the medical centre has been kept busy doing audios, vaccinations and medicals. The task of keeping regimental vaccination and audio statistics in check sometimes feels like painting the Forth Bridge, with lists constantly being sent out to squadrons identifying those individuals who are out of date. Those requiring action
then present to the medical centre to either be stabbed by a medic or put in the audio booth in the hope that they manage to hear all the high pitched bleeps; which is easier said than done after an operational tour or two. The HCMR training wing; also based at Combermere, continued to supply a steady stream of patients as inexperienced troopers found out the hard way that horses are dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle. The main test for the Regiment in the first half of 2012 was BATUS and Ex PRAIRIE THUNDER 1 and 2. This provided an excellent training opportunity for medics in a difficult pre-hospital care environment. The HCR Regimental Aid Post (RAP) manned by LSgt Clayton, LSgt Jones and myself treated over 100 patients during the exercise. Problems ranged from infected mosquito bites, and piles to more serious problems including fractures and heat stroke. During BATUS the RAP was supported by LCoH Logan and Tpr Scholes, Samaritan commander and driver respectively. They both settled into RAP life well with Tpr Scholes providing constant amusement with his verbal diarrhoea, which was untreatable even with our extensive pharmacy. B Sqn were supported
by LCpl Turner, and LCpl Githaiga; C Sqn had LCpl White and LCpl Oppong to provide medical support. Although several patients needed to be flown off the area via the Gazelle helicopter, fortunately no one was seriously injured and most importantly everyone finished the exercise in one piece. Following summer leave the regiment started mission specific training (MST) in preparation for Afghanistan in 2013. For the squadrons and medics this meant more exercises and ranges with additional focus on getting soldiers trained up as team medics. The team medic course helps to ensure soldiers have the first aid skills needed to save lives immediately after an injury is sustained. Although Bastion and Selly Oak do a fantastic job helping the injured; soldiers and medics on the ground at the point of wounding take the most important life saving decisions. Correctly using a tourniquet, first field dressing and chest seal in the first ‘Platinum’ 10 minutes can make the difference between life and death. It may be naïve to think that these skills will not be needed but if soldiers are injured in Afghanistan the training and experiences of the previous year will maximise their chance of survival.
Household Cavalry Regiment ■ 31