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Irish Society of Military Medicine

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  • #31
    Selly Oaks closed now they consolidated a number of hospitals in a super-site new build (QEH).

    The military moved in there too. Great place was in it two weeks ago.

    I honestly doubt the British Army could function without its reservist GPs etc...they get trawled quite a bit for overseas stuff.
    'History is a vast early warning system'. Norman Cousins

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    • #32
      Have a look at this
      http://www.defence.ie/website.nsf/fba727373c93a4f080256c53004d976e/d760c15b878715de802575c50052b730/$FILE/DF%20Medical%20Services%20Review.pdf

      At the time there would have been 3 PDF Fd Med Coys, PDF Logs Base Hosp, PDF Med facilities in DFTC, AC & NS plus 3 RDF Fd Med Coys.

      This report completely ignored the existence of the 3 RDF Fd Med Coys and the requirement for RDF enlistment (and limited extension/annual medicals for a small number).

      However, it recommends increasing the role of the RDF engaging with civvy healthcare, engaging with the RDF for possible overseas medical deployment.

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      • #33
        Food for thought:
        In South Africa the Military Health Service is a separate service entirely. It runs three hospitals (1, 2 and 3 Mil) providing healthcare to soldiers, police, Defence department employees and government security services.

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        • #34
          And on an unrelated note, back in national service days, just about every raging queen I’ve met who served got themselves posted as a “tampon tiffie”. However, one of them had his quiet nights at 1 Mil disturbed by being posted to the psych ward where the worst cases of PTSD from Angola size up his ears for their collection.

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          • #35
            Originally posted by DeV View Post
            Have a look at this
            http://www.defence.ie/website.nsf/fba727373c93a4f080256c53004d976e/d760c15b878715de802575c50052b730/$FILE/DF%20Medical%20Services%20Review.pdf

            At the time there would have been 3 PDF Fd Med Coys, PDF Logs Base Hosp, PDF Med facilities in DFTC, AC & NS plus 3 RDF Fd Med Coys.

            This report completely ignored the existence of the 3 RDF Fd Med Coys and the requirement for RDF enlistment (and limited extension/annual medicals for a small number).

            However, it recommends increasing the role of the RDF engaging with civvy healthcare, engaging with the RDF for possible overseas medical deployment.
            That's interesting reading...particularly recruitment and retention.

            I can only comment on the UK model; theres essentially three pathways for Medical professionals;

            1. Already qualified...do Professionally Qualified Officers course (11 weeks) at Sandhurst followed by another three months military medicine course at Lichfield...then off you go.

            2. Sponsored by the military through university...ie paid a substantial bursary...during this time you are a member of the University Officers Training Corps. Once graduated, undertake the PQO course at Sandhurst...then 3 months or so at Lichfield. A Doctor would then spend two years as a GDMO (General Duties Medical Officer) with a battalion / regiment under the supervision of a Regimental Medical Officer...before choosing a specialisation...GP...trauma surgeon...anesthetist etc...their training can take seven or eight years at this stage. Dentists, Physios, Nursing Officers, Pharmacists would go straight to wherever after Lichfield.

            3. Join as a Reservist...already qualified...you'll almost certainly be mobilised in time of war and trawled for jobs when required.

            I think in practice the numbers of surgeons etc joining the regular RAMC is tiny; so the university 'home-grown' people...plus the reservists are vital.

            In fact (someone correct me if I'm wrong) more than one RAMC Medical Regiment is hybrid regular / reserve.
            'History is a vast early warning system'. Norman Cousins

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            • #36
              Found this article from 2013 while rooting about on 'Tinternet

              The Director of Medical Corps Colonel Gerald Kerr says the recognition of military medicine as a specialty could be key to attracting new and young
              "Well, stone me! We've had cocaine, bribery and Arsenal scoring two goals at home. But just when you thought there were truly no surprises left in football, Vinnie Jones turns out to be an international player!" (Jimmy Greaves)!"

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              • #37
                Originally posted by spider View Post
                That's interesting reading...particularly recruitment and retention.

                I can only comment on the UK model; theres essentially three pathways for Medical professionals;

                1. Already qualified...do Professionally Qualified Officers course (11 weeks) at Sandhurst followed by another three months military medicine course at Lichfield...then off you go.

                2. Sponsored by the military through university...ie paid a substantial bursary...during this time you are a member of the University Officers Training Corps. Once graduated, undertake the PQO course at Sandhurst...then 3 months or so at Lichfield. A Doctor would then spend two years as a GDMO (General Duties Medical Officer) with a battalion / regiment under the supervision of a Regimental Medical Officer...before choosing a specialisation...GP...trauma surgeon...anesthetist etc...their training can take seven or eight years at this stage. Dentists, Physios, Nursing Officers, Pharmacists would go straight to wherever after Lichfield.

                3. Join as a Reservist...already qualified...you'll almost certainly be mobilised in time of war and trawled for jobs when required.

                I think in practice the numbers of surgeons etc joining the regular RAMC is tiny; so the university 'home-grown' people...plus the reservists are vital.

                In fact (someone correct me if I'm wrong) more than one RAMC Medical Regiment is hybrid regular / reserve.
                335 Medical Evacuation Regiment (in which I serve as a CMT) is based almost entirely of reservists, save for some PSIs (Permanent Staff Instructors) and more senior officers. It's a nationally recruited reservist unit which means that the minimum training commitment is currently two weekends and one, 2-week training period/year.

                Interestingly, our unit has gone down the route of being paired with three different armoured medical units, with which we train every so often, developing a land-MERT capability for whatever's coming down the line over the next few years.

                Most of the field hospitals are also made up of many more reservists than 'regulars'.

                I happen to know that RDF reservist psychologist also. The RDF also seems very open to having physicians on board - they seem to accept applications on an ongoing basis, though there don't seem to be too many.

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                • #38
                  The RDF also seems very open to having physicians on board
                  Yes we are if you are interested
                  "Are they trying to shoot down the other drone? "

                  "No, they're trying to fly the tank"

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                  • #39
                    In the US, 70% of our deployable medical assets are in the Army Reserve. We recruit the various professionals actively, they do a four week "shoot and salute" Officer Basic Course and are directly commissioned. When they get called up, it's only for 120 day rotations, as most of them voted with their feet after the first few year long deployments. It killed their private practices and cost a lot of them a fortune. This model works very well, the docs love it because they can deploy and serve and keep their skills up in the field and they don't suffer a huge penalty.

                    We have active docs too of course, you can be selected for the military medical school programme (very competitive), but it's a "two for one deal", two years of active duty for every year of school and residency. Those guys deploy for the full rotation, they are on active duty. It's still not a bad deal, you are paid to attend med school and graduate debt free, when your obligation is done, you have all the experience and credentials and off you go to the private sector to make money.

                    The DF in Ireland could leverage a similar programme to the reserves here. Some sort of compensation for med school, a shoot and salute course over the summer breaks, then a RDF commission with a requirement to serve overseas or in Ireland for X amount of months in a Y period of time. Rest of the time they are working in the community, keeping current, Ireland gets docs, the DF get skilled docs, everyone wins. The current programme is a step in the right direction.

                    Ideally this sort of programme would be expanded to nursing, other medical specialties, IT and other professionals. The DF gets skilled people with limited outlay and people have an opportunity to contribute.

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                    • #40
                      Originally posted by trellheim View Post
                      Yes we are if you are interested
                      I actually would but I'm not a medical doctor!

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