23 Sept 2008

LOCAL SOLDIERS MAKING A DIFFERENCE IN AFGHANISTAN

I have recently returned from a visit to Afghanistan where I had the privilege to see at first hand the work of local soldiers and healthcare staff deployed to Helmand Province.

During my time there, I was able to meet with members of the Royal Irish Regiment and local soldiers from other regiments some of whom are from or have relations in South Belfast.  I also witnessed the vital and often life-saving work of the 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital (Volunteers).   These reservists are highly qualified and skilled health service staff who have given up the safety and security of their homes to provide critical medical support in conflict-ridden Afghanistan.  Indeed, ahead of deployment, the reservists undertook extensive training based at the Territorial Army Centre at Hydebank.

Working in the 204 Field Hospital, which is Northern Ireland’s only Territorial Army field hospital, the reservists are fortunate to have such an impressive facility with access to all the high-tech equipment found in hospitals in Northern Ireland. 

During their tour of duty, our soldiers and reservists have been working in extremely difficult and often dangerous conditions.  Yet despite the difficulties they faced they have shown great compassion and bravery.  In particular, the care and attention which they provide for all their patients is remarkable. No-one who has been injured is turned away from the hospital, in fact, one third of all patients are from the Afghanistan army or police, one third from the Afghan population and the final third are coalition forces.

While I was there I saw a six-month old baby called Daoud, who had suffered a broken femur as a result of Taliban action, receiving the best of medical treatment. Another young female child was being cared for in the hospital after no family member had come to claim her.

Since June, the reservists have dealt with around 600 admissions to the field hospital and carried out roughly 400 operations. Dealing with major injuries is, sadly, nothing new to many of our local health service staff. Their expertise is outstanding and their skills in dealing with such traumatic injuries have been highly valued by both the armed forces and the Afghan people.

Indeed, it is incredible to see the reach of our health service making such a tremendous difference to people living as far away as Afghanistan.

In June I held a reception at Hillsborough for the 204 field hospital. Among those attending were the reservists, along with their friends and families. Also present, giving their full support to those shortly to be deployed, was Sir David Richards, Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces and Major General Chris Brown, General Officer Commanding (GOC) Northern Ireland.

And next month I will be attending a prestigious awards ceremony at the Royal Hospital Chelsea in London where healthcare workers who have worked alongside and supported military will be honoured for the difference they are making and have made to people’s lives.

The reservists will soon return home, and while their expertise has proved invaluable in Afghanistan, I know that they will return home with new skills which will be used to benefit patients across Northern Ireland.

Like many others, I look forward to the welcome home parade and a service of thanksgiving to be held in St Anne’s Cathedral in November.  We all should be thankful for the immense contribution they have made.

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