:DMrs Guzlin, Guzlin minor mark 2 and I watched this, one of the best programs made for ages on the TV. All I can say is that you have our total respect and appreciation for what you do. I only hope that the Politicians, spin doctors, half-wits and other various near-do-wells that stain our system in these times were watching. They should realize that they are not fit to clean your boots!
There will aleays be a beer waiting for you here in Suffolk.
Stay safe and God bless.

Haven't watched it as yet - plan to er acquire a copy to watch later.

As the report covers something that has occured during the current tour which will be considered for the next set of Honours and Awards...?

Bob the Doc: Should've come to Cider and Pasties instead! :ok:

...just like to add my admiration to all the participants and to the production team for such a moving and illuminating documentary.:ok:

I too was a little confused over the RAF/NHS involvment but nevertheless was humbled by the culture and priorities on display. Truely awsome.

To all the Doc Bobs' and Nurse Xs', RAF or NHS, THANK YOU.:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D:D

Oh! and to 99 Sqn, just the (hungry) bus drivers, we've known that all along.:cool: (from a maritime mate). :p

To Clarify then...
 

Sort of glad that we weren't getting picky and that the public were a little confused as to the status of the team on CCAST...

All members of CCAST (doctors, nurses, medics and MDSS techs) are full time serving members of the RAF. There are currently no reservists, auxiliaries or civilians working on this service.

Since the closure of all service hospitals in the late '90s (generally agreed to be a good thing although not desperately popular), all full time service secondary care (hospital based) medical personnel have jobs in NHS hospitals when they are not on duty for their 'war role'. Most personnel work at one of the Ministry of Defence Hospital Units (MDHUs) around the country. MDHUs are civilian hospitals with a specific arrangement with the MoD for the provision of clinical services to military patients and also providing work and training for military medical personnel. Currently there are MDHUs at Peterborough, Frimley Park (Aldershot), Derriford (Plymouth), Northallerton/Middlesborough and Portsmouth. In addition to these hospitals is the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine which is currently based at Selly Oak Hospital in Birmingham. It will move to the new hospital when it opens this Summer.

Clinical staff (doctors and nurses) are on an on-call rota for CCAST. The rotas are slightly different for the different types of staff but 4 months on call a year is about right. It is worth remembering that there is a tactical CCAST based at Bastion that provides in-theatre transfer capability. This also has to be covered.

The Flight Nursing Attendant (FNA) is usually drawn from the pool of staff at Tac Med Wg at Lyneham, likewise the MDSS tech.

At any one time there are a total of four doctors (2 consultants and 2 trainees) and six nurses on call in the UK. All on 6 hours NTM. 2 doctors (one of each) and four nurses are resident at Lyneham and the others are on call from their home hospital and can be called in as required. The consultants are on call for a month at a time, the nurses do two. The trainee doctors do one week at a time to minimise disruption to training. The deployed nurses are in AFG for 3 months, the docs do 2.

As Gp Capt McGuire mentioned on the programme, officially there is a 24 hour stand down period after a mission (and the other on call team comes down to Lyneham to cover that time) but occasionally that team has already deployed on another mission (or the mission is so large that two teams are required) and so sometimes that 24 hour limit is broken. Fortunately it is unusual.

Hope that helps clarify things a little. Sorry for the long post but there seemed to be enough people confused as to the status of the team that it was worth clarifying the situation. Any more questions, feel free to post or PM me!

BtD
CCAST Trainee MO

PS...Kharmael - given that we are not allowed to get pissed while on call, while the cider and pasties was tempting, spending an evening in 30 Sqn's hangar as the only sober one didn't really appeal!

Bob the Doc thanks for the details, was wondering myself. People knock the military/NHS medical but they are/ you are the best in the world and thats what our lads/lass'es need.
Just need the powers in charge need to realise it ! :D:D

Brilliant programme ,please show more of the services flying. Love the banter !

Being overseas, I am normally deprived of such gems.

Just finished watching it this minute though.

Very interesting piece of documentary.

Someone told me it was available here :-

Cutting.Edge.The.Air.Hospital.WS.PDTV.XviD-FTP (download torrent) - TPB

CCAST Video
 

I have downloaded it and can make it available via an online file if anyone does not want to be bothered with downloading it via the torrent file method that El Grifo noted. Just pm me for the details. It is approx. 359 meg. in size. CV-580

:DI too was a little confused about the status of the team, thanks ''bob the doc for clearing that up.
I can only praise the hard work and dedication of the team that was shown in the programme.
I spent many years flying as part of an aeromed team and I must admit that compared to the efforts of the CCAST we had it a lot easier, even when bringing the guys back from NI.
Guess all I really want to say is well done!

A very informative and humbling programme. I have the utmost respect for all those that were, and still are, involved.

Thank you 'bob the doc'

That was what I needed to know.
I could not, nor never have, done your job. Folks like these medical teams (and medics in combat too) are giants of people IMHO.

Seeing blood and guts while trying to save ones life in battle is one thing, but to see such things under the circumstances in the programme, is something I could not do, or want to do.

Thank you:ok:

Bit late on parade with this one, so watched it here:
The Air Hospital - 4oD - Channel 4
27 days left and counting there, so if you haven't caught up with it yet then please do so ASAP.
Not much to say other than what has already been said by most previous posts. Truth is I don't know what to say as I'm filled with such a mixture of pride, awe, respect, sadness and blind rage. Perhaps I should dwell more on the quiet and profound thoughts expressed by those featured, the injured, the medics, and the crew. One of them seemed to speak for some here at least, "Us? We're just the drivers!". Amen to that. Oh, and well done again Channel 4, thank goodness you are there to represent our Forces so well for us.
Chug

Being re shown this weekend on More 4.

regards

Air pig.