Preparing for casualties

Preparing for casualties

RFA Argus will treat any serious casualties

Thousands of medical staff are on stand-by in the Gulf to treat the casualties of the war with Iraq.

The NHS is also on alert with hospitals in Britain ready to provide treatment for the most seriously injured casualties.

The bulk of the medical personnel are stationed alongside British troops in north Kuwait.

The army has established two field hospitals - 33 and 34 Field Hospitals - close to the Iraqi border and one hour's drive from Kuwait City.

Field hospitals

Both hospitals have in the region of 300 beds, housed under military tents. They also have state-of-the-art operating theatres, located alongside in specially-designed containers.

Medical facilities

Two 200-bed field hospitals

100-bed RFA Argus

500 beds in civilian hospitals in Kuwait

NHS hospitals on standby

The 33 field hospital has been operational since early March. It took troops four days to construct its maze of tents and to get everything into place. The 34 field hospital is now also up and running.

In addition, the armed forces will have access to an extra 500 beds in civilian hospitals in the Kuwaiti capital if the need arises.

The Royal Navy sent Royal Fleet Auxiliary Service Argus to the Gulf at the beginning of this year. According to the Ministry of Defence, the ship is "one of the best equipped float medical facilities in the world".

For operational reasons, RFA Argus is referred to as a primary casualty receiving ship rather than a hospital ship. This enables it to operate in the combat area. RAF Chinook helicopters will ferry casualties from the front line to the ship.

RFA Argus has 120 naval doctors and other health professionals on board, many of whom normally work for the NHS. It has an emergency department, a general ward comprising 70 beds and an operating theatre with four tables.

Other facilities include a 10-bed intensive care unit and a 20-bed high dependency ward to treat the most seriously injured.

The ship is equipped with X-ray machines, a CT scanner and laboratory facilities all crucial in helping doctors make their diagnosis. Psychiatrists, dentists and physiotherapists are also on board.

RFA Argus recently underwent a major refit to ensure it could remain operational in the event of a chemical or biological attack.

New seals have ensured the medical facilities are airtight, which will allow doctors to proceed with operations around the clock.

Allied assistance

The British forces will also be able to turn to their US allies if they need additional medical facilities.

UK forces breakdown

Quarter of the British Army

120 Challenger II tanks

HMS Ark Royal, HMS Ocean and Naval task group

Tornados, Jaguars and Harrier aircraft

Click here for a guide to UK military deployment

USNS Comfort set sail for the Gulf in January. With 12 operating theatres she can handle up to 1,000 casualties at a time and is equipped to cope with soldiers injured in chemical or biological attacks.

In Britain, the Department of Health has put procedures in place to ensure the NHS can take the most seriously injured casualties.

People requiring long-term treatment would be flown to a British base in Cyprus before being brought home.

Any casualties would be distributed to hospitals around Britain to ensure the NHS can continue to work effectively and no single trust is overwhelmed.

Department officials have drawn up a list of airports where casualties will be flown to on a rotational basis before being transferred to hospital.

The hope in Whitehall and the Pentagon is that few military personnel will need medical care.

During the last Gulf War, USNS Comfort was deployed off the coast of Saudi Arabia for eight months.

It treated more than 8,000 people and admitted 716 patients. Most patients were the victims of accident rather than war.

London and Washington will be aiming for similar statistics this time around.