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03/06/2008
TA Medics Get VIP Send-Off
TA Medics have been honoured in advance of their deployment to troubled Afghanistan for a three-month tour of duty.
NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, hosted a reception at Hillsborough Castle for the 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) who will be deploying shortly to the zone - where an RIR soldier has just been wounded in a suicide car bomb attack.
Some 70 personnel will be deployed to the UK Medical Group hospital at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province where the unnamed Royal Irish Regiment soldier wounded at the weekend is now being treated.
He was in a convoy that had just left the main British military base, when it was approached by a vehicle carrying a bomb - which then exploded prematurely - before reaching the military convoy.
He received only minor blast injuries in the explosion on Saturday and is recovering in Camp Bastion's field hospital.
He is one of more than 500 Royal Irish Regiment soldiers - many of whom come from Northern Ireland - deployed for a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
This week's news sees the medical reservists, from a wide range of specialisms across the health service, standing by to provide critical medical support to the Armed Forces and the Afghan National Army, Afghan civilians including children - and even the Taliban, where necessary.
Mr McGimpsey said: "I wish our colleagues in 204 Field Hospital well on their deployment.
"The members of the Field Hospital will bring a variety of skills and expertise from the health and social care system as well as the independent sector.
"In Northern Ireland we have unfortunately had a lot of experience in trauma treatment and that expertise is now available to those serving in Afghanistan.
"We wish our colleagues a safe tour of duty and we are very proud of their commitment to delivering the very best health care to not only those serving in the Armed Forces, but also the citizens of Afghanistan."
The reception was attended by the families of those who will be deploying and by a wide cross-representation of political life and members of the Assembly Health Committee.
Sir David Richards, Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces, and Major General Chris Brown, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Northern Ireland were also in attendance.
The 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) is Northern Ireland’s only Territorial Army field hospital and will be deploying to Afghanistan from mid-July until October.
See: RIR Soldier Wounded In Suicide Bomb Attack
(BMcC)
NI Health Minister Michael McGimpsey, hosted a reception at Hillsborough Castle for the 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) who will be deploying shortly to the zone - where an RIR soldier has just been wounded in a suicide car bomb attack.
Some 70 personnel will be deployed to the UK Medical Group hospital at Camp Bastion in Helmand Province where the unnamed Royal Irish Regiment soldier wounded at the weekend is now being treated.
He was in a convoy that had just left the main British military base, when it was approached by a vehicle carrying a bomb - which then exploded prematurely - before reaching the military convoy.
He received only minor blast injuries in the explosion on Saturday and is recovering in Camp Bastion's field hospital.
He is one of more than 500 Royal Irish Regiment soldiers - many of whom come from Northern Ireland - deployed for a six-month tour of duty in Afghanistan.
This week's news sees the medical reservists, from a wide range of specialisms across the health service, standing by to provide critical medical support to the Armed Forces and the Afghan National Army, Afghan civilians including children - and even the Taliban, where necessary.
Mr McGimpsey said: "I wish our colleagues in 204 Field Hospital well on their deployment.
"The members of the Field Hospital will bring a variety of skills and expertise from the health and social care system as well as the independent sector.
"In Northern Ireland we have unfortunately had a lot of experience in trauma treatment and that expertise is now available to those serving in Afghanistan.
"We wish our colleagues a safe tour of duty and we are very proud of their commitment to delivering the very best health care to not only those serving in the Armed Forces, but also the citizens of Afghanistan."
The reception was attended by the families of those who will be deploying and by a wide cross-representation of political life and members of the Assembly Health Committee.
Sir David Richards, Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces, and Major General Chris Brown, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Northern Ireland were also in attendance.
The 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) is Northern Ireland’s only Territorial Army field hospital and will be deploying to Afghanistan from mid-July until October.
See: RIR Soldier Wounded In Suicide Bomb Attack
(BMcC)
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
