The Observer newspaper has published a story claiming that wounded troops in Afghanistan are being made to endure lengthy delays before receiving treatment because of a shortage of helicopters and that calls for dedicated medical helicopters have been turned down.
We are not aware of any formal requests for a dedicated fleet of medical helicopters.
Major Mike Taylor, Medical Liaison Officer at Task Force Helmand HQ, said: “Helicopters are available 24/7 to evacuate wounded personnel and are manned by highly qualified medical teams. The medical care available in operational theatres from point of wounding onwards is widely recognised as being of the very highest standard and has received much independent praise.
We have never been in a position where we have required more than what we have. Critically, there has never been an occasion during Op HERRICK 10 where we have not met the clinical timeline to get a patient the treatment that they require.”
The National Audit Office report, ‘Support to High Intensity Operations’, published in May 2009, praised the Medical Emergency Response Teams that extract casualties and fly them to the nearest field hospital. It said: ‘The introduction of the Medical Emergency Response Teams to quickly take life-saving medical support to casualties and evacuate them speedily to hospital has been a particular success. The introduction of these teams has undoubtedly saved lives’.
There has also been much media speculation on the deployment of RAF helicopters to Afghanistan, specifically with regard to Merlins and Chinooks.
A common misperception has been that it has taken two years to prepare the six Merlin 3As, purchased from Denmark, for service in Afghanistan. These helicopters were purchased in June 2007 and were modified, entering service with the RAF in May 2008. They then joined the rest of the Merlin fleet that was supporting operations in Iraq.
This mission is due to end shortly. The fleet will then enter a four-month training period in the USA to prepare for an end of year deployment to the more challenging operational and environmental conditions of Afghanistan.
Allegations that Chinook crew shortages are preventing us from deploying additional helicopters to Afghanistan are also misleading. There is currently a small shortfall in the number of Chinook pilots, although this will be eliminated as extra helicopter pilots graduating from the Defence Helicopter Flying School join the front line squadrons. This shortfall will not prevent the RAF from meeting any operational requirements placed upon it.
