War injured flown home

War injured flown home

Plane bringing injured troops to East Midlands Airport

Seven British troops from the Gulf have arrived at East Midlands Airport before being sent for treatment in UK hospitals.

The chartered plane landed at the Castle Donington airport in Leicestershire on Thursday.

The airport is one of 16 across the country receiving injured troops who need specialist treatment.

The first three casualties were flown home to Stansted Airport on Wednesday and are being treated at two hospitals in Essex.

Flight from Cyprus

Hospitals in the East Midlands, including Leicester Royal Infirmary and Derby City General Hospital, could treat soldiers with serious burns or other major injuries.

Several of the servicemen are being taken to the Queen's Medical Centre in Nottingham and others will go to hospitals in Birmingham, official sources said.

We anticipate that any military patients will be coming to us in what we call a stabilised state

Mark Henley, plastic surgeon

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) confirmed some had been hurt in combat.

"Some of those injured have battle-related injuries, though most have other minor injuries," said an MoD spokeswoman.

All of them had been taken to Cyprus from locations across Kuwait and Iraq before flying on to the UK.

Major Angus Cameron, of the 49th (East) Battalion, based in Nottingham, said: "The patients will have a range of injuries and ailments, just like any other workforce would have.

"Some of them may have flu, others may have broken bones and none of those things would be helped by sitting in the desert.

"The patients were assessed when they left and are being assessed again to determine what treatment they may need," said Major Cameron.

Sick leave

"Some of them will be sent home on sick leave, others will be returned to the home headquarters of their battalions to recuperate and others will need further treatment."

Mark Henley, a plastic surgeon consultant at Nottingham City Hospital, is an advisor to the Royal Navy.

He took part in a recent conference among the medical profession on how to deal with war casualties.

"We anticipate that any military patients will be coming to us in what we call a stabilised state and they be will requiring curative and restorative treatment."