The aim of the visit was to provide an opportunity for the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme (AFPS) visitors to enhance their understanding of Defence Medical Services (DMS) capabilities, including the Operational Patient Care Pathway, which looks at treatment from when personnel are wounded through to their rehabilitation.
During the morning, the visitors received a series of presentations which included an opening brief delivered by Air Marshall Walton on the important role of the DMS within Defence and the current support to ongoing operations.
The Surgeon General, Major General Timothy Hodgetts, and his staff followed with presentations demonstrating a comprehensive insight into the Operational Patient Care Pathway, which includes from the point of injury, through to hospital care, medical evacuation, to acute hospital care and rehabilitation.
Air Marshall Walton with AFPS members and DMS personnel
The afternoon schedule included a series of DMS capability demonstrations, including elements of the RAF's Medical Emergency Response Team (MERT) and Critical Care Air Support Team (CCAST). The visit concluded with a tour of the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre's world leading rehabilitation facilities focusing on the importance of achieving the best possible outcomes for all wounded, injured and sick service personnel.
Following the visit Director General DMS, Air Marshal Clare Walton said:
We are very grateful that Members of the Armed Forces Parliamentary Scheme were able to spend a day at the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre in Stanford Hall to learn more about the Defence Medical Services. Providing world class military medical support and healthcare services to our Armed Forces is central to what we do. The DMS is proud to deliver that support, keeping Armed Forces personnel fit to fight and fighting back to fitness, both at home and abroad.
