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Defence Medical Services Department (DMSD)
The DMSD is the headquarters for the Defence Medical Services. The
clinical director of the DMSD is the Surgeon General (SG) and he
operates through four directorates as follows:
DMSD is a Joint Service organisation
with personnel from all three services and MoD Civil Servants working
together to ensure 'Provision of strategic direction to the
Defence Medical Services to ensure coherent delivery of all medical
outputs'.
The DCDS(H) (Deputy Chief of Defence
Staff (Health), is accountable to the VCDS (Vice Chief of Defence
Staff) for the overall performance of the Defence Medical Services.
Single Service Medical Care
The three armed forces maintain their own medical services who provide
medical support worldwide in both peace and war.
Royal Naval Medical Service (RNMS)
Army Medical Services (AMS)
Royal Air Forces Medical Services (RAF MS)
Hospital Care
In the UK, hospital care is provided at Ministry of Defence Hospital
Units (MDHU). The Defence Medical Services Department (DMSD) has
contracts with the NHS for provision of care in MDHUs, which are run
as military units embedded within selected NHS hospitals. There are
MDHUs at Derriford (Plymouth), Frimley Park (Aldershot), Northallerton
(near Catterick), Peterborough and Portsmouth.
In addition, the Defence Medical
Services runs a number of other units which include the Royal Centre
for Defence Medicine (Birmingham), Defence Services Medical
Rehabilitation Centre (Headley Court) and the Duchess of Kent's
Psychiatric Unit (Catterick). There are also two military hospitals,
one in Cyprus and the other in Gibraltar.
In Iraq the 'Role 3' Field Hospital at
Shaibah provides medical support that includes primary surgery, an
intensive care unit, medium and low dependency nursing care beds and
diagnostic support, as well as emergency medical care. Service
personnel serving in Germany who require hospital care are treated in
one of the five German Provider Hospitals.
Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM)
The RCDM in Birmingham provides a centre for military personnel
requiring specialised care, and incorporates a facility for the
treatment of service personnel who have been evacuated from an
overseas deployment area after becoming ill or wounded/injured. RCDM
also acts as a centre for the training of Defence Medical Service
personnel.
In operation since 2001 the RCDM operates on a contract between the
DMSD and the University Hospitals Birmingham (UHB) NHS Trust. The RCDM
is a Joint Service establishment with medical personnel from all three
of the armed services wearing their respective Naval, Army, or Air
Force uniforms.
Service Health Professions
In March 2006 totals for health professionals in the Defence Medical
Services were as follows:
| POST |
NUMBER
IN POST |
| Biomedical
Scientist |
60 |
| Clinical
Physiologist |
7 |
| Combat
Medical Technician (Army) |
1,620 |
| Dental
Hygienists |
69 |
| Dental Surgery
Support |
390 |
| Dental
Technicians |
42 |
| Environmental
Health Officer |
29 |
| Environmental
Health Technicians |
100 |
| Health
Inspector |
2 |
| Medical
Admin (RAF) |
330 |
| Medical
Assistant (Royal Marine and Commando) |
66 |
| Medical
Assistant (General Duties) |
470 |
| Medical
Assistant (RAF |
370 |
| Medical
Assistant (Submarine) |
86 |
| Operating
Department Practitioners |
120 |
| Pharmacist |
10 |
| Pharmacy
Technician |
43 |
| Physiotherapist |
83 |
| Radiographer |
33 |
| Tri-Service
Totals |
3,930 |
Service Nursing Staff
Totals at 1 January 2006 were as follows:
| Nursing Staff |
In Post |
| QARNNS (Navy) |
290 |
| Officers |
90 |
| Other Ranks |
200 |
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| QARANC (ARMY) |
840 |
| Officers |
270 |
| Other Ranks |
570 |
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| PMRAFNS |
420 |
| Officers |
120 |
| Other Ranks |
300 |
Note:
QARNNS - Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service
QARANC - Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
PMRAFNS - Princess Mary's Royal Air Force Nursing Service
Defence Dental Services (DDS)
The Defence Dental Services (DDS) is a tri-service area employing
approximately 1,000 personnel from the three armed services and
contracted civilians. In the majority of cases treatment is provided
at Service Dental Centres worldwide.
The DDS is part of the Director General
Healthcare area within the DMSD.
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