RAF to Import Ebola
Chopper 2004:
It was not an LAS ambulance but an RAF Medical Services ambulance, with Royal Air Force writ large on the side. I suspect it had very little if any equipment inside to render decontamination easier and the crew were in a separate cab from the transfer team.
The original Trexlor isolators were quite 'flimsy', but the present day one look quite substantial.
It was not an LAS ambulance but an RAF Medical Services ambulance, with Royal Air Force writ large on the side. I suspect it had very little if any equipment inside to render decontamination easier and the crew were in a separate cab from the transfer team.
The original Trexlor isolators were quite 'flimsy', but the present day one look quite substantial.
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Congratulations to all concerned in bringing this guy back home, I realise there is a lot of debate as to whether a C17 is of suitable size, but one can probably understand the choice as it seems to be the primary medivac aircraft used from Afghanistan.
My only query is who decided to build the Countries sole high level isolation department in the middle of the Countries largest metropolis, that just seems daft.
My only query is who decided to build the Countries sole high level isolation department in the middle of the Countries largest metropolis, that just seems daft.
Nutloose:
One of the original high level units was at the old Coppets Wood hospital near Hendon.
The advantage of a C17, is a lot of internal space, and you don't need a high lifter to move the patient off the aircraft.
My only query is who decided to build the Countries sole high level isolation department in the middle of the Countries largest metropolis, that just seems daft.
The advantage of a C17, is a lot of internal space, and you don't need a high lifter to move the patient off the aircraft.
AP.
I beg your pardon as I had a cursory glance at the BBC webpage and did not look closely...tbh
Thought RAF ambulances were the old Bedford ones
albeit with the now six wheeled which look a tad robust
Not like this beast (took at the American Air Day at IWM 2 years back) which they've had and similar types for the last few decades -
Cheers
I beg your pardon as I had a cursory glance at the BBC webpage and did not look closely...tbh
Thought RAF ambulances were the old Bedford ones
albeit with the now six wheeled which look a tad robust Not like this beast (took at the American Air Day at IWM 2 years back) which they've had and similar types for the last few decades -
Cheers
Out of curiosity what's the hourly rate for a C17?
Out of curiosity what's the hourly rate for a C17?
Back in the 1970's the MOD had / published the hourly rate for use of their aircraft by other government departments - the idea being that if an OGD such as the foreign office needed e.g. a C.130 to move a load of diplomatic freight overseas at short notice, the the RAF would do this with the FCO being billed accordingly.
Not so long ago "Air Miles" Margaret Beckett as Environment Secretary was rapped over the knuckles for using the Queen's Flight for ministerial business, £100,000 for 110 flights over three years (as reported in the press). In addition she was criticised for arranging the 32 Sqn aircraft to collect and drop her off at East Midlands airport (21-times!) incurring large landing fees each time, rather than her using Northolt where the aircraft were based.
So who's picking up the bill for the the C17 to and from Sierra Leone and how much has it cost?
Back in the 1970's the MOD had / published the hourly rate for use of their aircraft by other government departments - the idea being that if an OGD such as the foreign office needed e.g. a C.130 to move a load of diplomatic freight overseas at short notice, the the RAF would do this with the FCO being billed accordingly.
Not so long ago "Air Miles" Margaret Beckett as Environment Secretary was rapped over the knuckles for using the Queen's Flight for ministerial business, £100,000 for 110 flights over three years (as reported in the press). In addition she was criticised for arranging the 32 Sqn aircraft to collect and drop her off at East Midlands airport (21-times!) incurring large landing fees each time, rather than her using Northolt where the aircraft were based.
So who's picking up the bill for the the C17 to and from Sierra Leone and how much has it cost?
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Sorry, but I don't think the cost should come into this, similar to bringing home a wounded serviceman. We also do not know what it carried outbound, for all we know it could have been carrying medical supplies.
NutLoose
So where do you draw the line? At what point does an individual or company have to take responsibility for their own actions (or decisions) rather than expect MOD/HMG to come to the rescue (with the usual line of "that's what I pay my taxes for"). I appreciate it is not me, or my family, involved in this particular case but I wouldn't dream of going somewhere (be it work or holiday) without knowing the 'what ifs' are covered if the worst happens. It's called insurance. It's not difficult - even the FCO advice page talks about the costs of air ambulances etc, and the need to have sufficient cover, when travelling on holiday. And if the military are the only people who can carry out a complex aeromed such as this then it doesn't change the fact that somebody (either the individual(s) or companies) should foot the bill.
Yes it's harsh but the 'pot of money' is only so deep. The MOD needs to be robust - if you want our services then you need to pay for them. As a side note I heard on the radio earlier today that the Health Minister wants to introduce 'fines' for patients who attend A&E as a result of excessive/binge drinking.
I don't think the cost should come into this
Yes it's harsh but the 'pot of money' is only so deep. The MOD needs to be robust - if you want our services then you need to pay for them. As a side note I heard on the radio earlier today that the Health Minister wants to introduce 'fines' for patients who attend A&E as a result of excessive/binge drinking.
Wrathmonk I think that Ebola is a special case in that no civilian air ambulance services are suitably equipped to transport Ebola cases.
It is already very, very difficult for private civilian air ambulance companies to survive because of the capital cost of suitable aircraft and the paucity of their employment. Most "air ambulance" aircraft are little more than an ancient business jet with some seats removed and are completely unsuitable for transporting even a patient on a stretcher.
I do agree though that the RAF should bill for these humanitarian flights to the company or the company's insurance. I was very aggrieved in the early days of Op Ellamy when the RAF suddenly decided to fly to Libya and "rescue" stranded oil workers because the company I was flying for at the time was making a packet from doing the same work and suddenly we had the market cut from under us by the RAF who could do it for free publicity!
It is already very, very difficult for private civilian air ambulance companies to survive because of the capital cost of suitable aircraft and the paucity of their employment. Most "air ambulance" aircraft are little more than an ancient business jet with some seats removed and are completely unsuitable for transporting even a patient on a stretcher.
I do agree though that the RAF should bill for these humanitarian flights to the company or the company's insurance. I was very aggrieved in the early days of Op Ellamy when the RAF suddenly decided to fly to Libya and "rescue" stranded oil workers because the company I was flying for at the time was making a packet from doing the same work and suddenly we had the market cut from under us by the RAF who could do it for free publicity!
Trimstab:
What is your knowledge of the civilian air ambulance market, there is 3 in the UK, one who is just about to refurbish their aircraft. REGA in Europe are a fantastic organisation.
Wrathmonk I think that Ebola is a special case in that no civilian air ambulance services are suitably equipped to transport Ebola cases.
It is already very, very difficult for private civilian air ambulance companies to survive because of the capital cost of suitable aircraft and the paucity of their employment. Most "air ambulance" aircraft are little more than an ancient business jet with some seats removed and are completely unsuitable for transporting even a patient on a stretcher.
It is already very, very difficult for private civilian air ambulance companies to survive because of the capital cost of suitable aircraft and the paucity of their employment. Most "air ambulance" aircraft are little more than an ancient business jet with some seats removed and are completely unsuitable for transporting even a patient on a stretcher.
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So where do you draw the line? At what point does an individual or company have to take responsibility for their own actions (or decisions) rather than expect MOD/HMG to come to the rescue (with the usual line of "that's what I pay my taxes for"). I appreciate it is not me, or my family, involved in this particular case but I wouldn't dream of going somewhere (be it work or holiday) without knowing the 'what ifs' are covered if the worst happens. It's called insurance. It's not difficult - even the FCO advice page talks about the costs of air ambulances etc, and the need to have sufficient cover, when travelling on holiday. And if the military are the only people who can carry out a complex aeromed such as this then it doesn't change the fact that somebody (either the individual(s) or companies) should foot the bill.
Yes it's harsh but the 'pot of money' is only so deep. The MOD needs to be robust - if you want our services then you need to pay for them. As a side note I heard on the radio earlier today that the Health Minister wants to introduce 'fines' for patients who attend A&E as a result of excessive/binge drinking.
Yes it's harsh but the 'pot of money' is only so deep. The MOD needs to be robust - if you want our services then you need to pay for them. As a side note I heard on the radio earlier today that the Health Minister wants to introduce 'fines' for patients who attend A&E as a result of excessive/binge drinking.
(and the A & E sanction, however implausible it would be to apply as it's subjective).
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Funding would most likely come from the FCO or DFID budgets, so quit stressing about where the cash is coming from. The fact the international aid budget was the most probable source of funding should please the daily mail readers on here - the RAF gets a lot of coverage (rightly so) for doing a bally good job, plus it gets spent on our assets.
As for the Whys and the Wherefores, consider this, if said nurse was to hide their symptoms and come home on the next BA jet direct to heathrow, as I think many would do in the circumstances bearing in mind the sort of treatment you can expect in Sierra Leone, I ask you to bear a thought about the carnage that would be wrought for the 200+ passengers sharing the trip (most probably on the Abuja leg).
The offering of aeromed services (funded externally to MoD core) has more to do with containment as it does with PR.
As for the Whys and the Wherefores, consider this, if said nurse was to hide their symptoms and come home on the next BA jet direct to heathrow, as I think many would do in the circumstances bearing in mind the sort of treatment you can expect in Sierra Leone, I ask you to bear a thought about the carnage that would be wrought for the 200+ passengers sharing the trip (most probably on the Abuja leg).
The offering of aeromed services (funded externally to MoD core) has more to do with containment as it does with PR.
What is your knowledge of the civilian air ambulance market, there is 3 in the UK, one who is just about to refurbish their aircraft. REGA in Europe are a fantastic organisation.
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Nice to see it has turned out well for Mr Pooley.
British Ebola patient Will Pooley feels 'wonderfully lucky' to be alive | Society | theguardian.com
British Ebola patient Will Pooley feels 'wonderfully lucky' to be alive | Society | theguardian.com
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Sadly, the same cannot be said for the Spanish cases:
BBC News - Ebola outbreak: Spain investigates new case
BBC News - Ebola outbreak: Spain investigates new case
European Commission spokesman Frederic Vincent said a letter had been sent to the Spanish health minister "to obtain some clarification" of how the nurse had contracted Ebola despite all the precautions taken.
"There is obviously a problem somewhere," he said.
"There is obviously a problem somewhere," he said.
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UK Troops prepare for Sierra Leone Ebola duty ...
UK MOD Press Release : Troops Prepare
I hope the Minister is going to lead from the front and go with them ...
I sincerely hope our service personnel remain safe ...
Originally Posted by UK MOD
Military personnel will deploy to Sierra Leone next week where they will join military engineers and planners who have been in country for almost a month, overseeing the construction of the medical facilities.
I hope the Minister is going to lead from the front and go with them ...
I sincerely hope our service personnel remain safe ...
Hope said nurse recovers toute de suite, though there have been steps as far as to legally take the family pet and have it put down.
Looking at their local news, the footage of the second Ebola patient was offloaded by an Airbus Group CN235 / 295. Though as Air Pig said on here earlier , the incubation tent around the gurney looked umm flimsy when I posted up news photos of the priest being offloaded from the A310...
Compared to our EBola patient who was in a more incubated gurney tent which meant that the paramedic crews and RAF med personnel did not need hazmat suits or surgical masks, goggles etc etc. Maybe popular opinion has queried the standards to which the basics of handling infectious diseases by the Spaniards..
Best of luck to the Army meds
Cheers
Looking at their local news, the footage of the second Ebola patient was offloaded by an Airbus Group CN235 / 295. Though as Air Pig said on here earlier , the incubation tent around the gurney looked umm flimsy when I posted up news photos of the priest being offloaded from the A310...
Compared to our EBola patient who was in a more incubated gurney tent which meant that the paramedic crews and RAF med personnel did not need hazmat suits or surgical masks, goggles etc etc. Maybe popular opinion has queried the standards to which the basics of handling infectious diseases by the Spaniards..
Best of luck to the Army meds
Cheers
Indeed I sincerely hope the team from 22 field hospital return home safely, also UKIETR have been mobilised as I know one of the docs who is going.
Other hospitals in the UK have been put on alert. Royal Liverpool, (School of Tropical Medicine just out of the back door) Newcastle and Sheffield.
Ebola: NHS hospitals put on standby - Telegraph
Difficult problem, maybe they should have a field hospital on an airfield and then secure the perimeter, did it in Iraq and Afghanistan, used to do it with the old TB and fever hospitals.
Other hospitals in the UK have been put on alert. Royal Liverpool, (School of Tropical Medicine just out of the back door) Newcastle and Sheffield.
Ebola: NHS hospitals put on standby - Telegraph
Difficult problem, maybe they should have a field hospital on an airfield and then secure the perimeter, did it in Iraq and Afghanistan, used to do it with the old TB and fever hospitals.
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Will Pooley was lucky. If you can't take a joke, etc.
British doctors and soldiers will not be guaranteed return to UK if they contract Ebola - Telegraph
British doctors and soldiers will not be guaranteed return to UK if they contract Ebola - Telegraph
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Wrathmonk I think that Ebola is a special case in that no civilian air ambulance services are suitably equipped to transport Ebola cases.