WIREDGOV

A volunteer team of Scottish doctors, nurses and other NHS clinicians are heading to Afghanistan to treat wounded service personnel.

Health Secretary Nicola Sturgeon met 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) at their base in Glasgow this morning, ahead of their deployment to Afghanistan in the New Year. The team are all Territorial Army volunteers whose main jobs are or were in the NHS in Scotland.

205 is Scotland's only Field Hospital. Using their skills and experience from Scottish hospitals and health centres, the team will treat wounded service personnel and local people in Afghanistan during a three-month tour beginning in January. The Health Secretary met the team in person to thank them before they leave Scotland to complete pre-deployment training in England.

Ms Sturgeon said:

"Working in the NHS is already a huge contribution for anyone to make to society. To use your professional expertise and volunteer in the forces too is truly selfless.

"The nurses, doctors and other clinical staff here at the 205 care for wounded service personnel and can also offer medical help to local people in need on the ground in Afghanistan. But their patients back home in Scotland also benefit thanks to the invaluable trauma and critical care experience they gain on military operations.

"205 are a credit both to Scotland's NHS and to the TA. I'm honoured to meet them and glad to have the opportunity to thank them in person."

205's Commanding Officer Colonel David McArthur said:

"We are delighted to welcome the Deputy First Minister to our TA centre to meet some of the team who will be deploying. I am very much looking forward to leading the team on this, my second trip to Afghanistan.

"It will be a multinational team, as we will have 50 American colleagues, along with some regular and TA members from medical units across the country. So we are not doing this task on our own. We are all really looking forward to the challenge."