Page 69 - MERCIAN Eagle 2015

OP TOSCA Medical
The Regimental Aid Post (RAP) deployed with 2 MERCIAN on OP TOSCA in October 2014 for six months, to provide medical cover for the British contingent of the UN peacekeeping mission. Not involved in the patrolling of the green line, the medical personnel remarked that being in Cyprus was like running a normal UK medical centre sick parade, with added sunshine, extra physical training, occasional riot cover, fantastic access to medical care and the opportunity to work alongside medical colleagues of many nationalities.
Working from two locations (Ledra Palace Hotel and UNPA, Nicosia) in order to be best placed to look after all deployed Brits, the medical centres provided the perfect training locations for regular and reservist CMTs, with CMT 3s being mentored daily by the more experienced CMT 1s. Both the RMO and GDMO were deployed to help run the daily sick parade, as well as to be on call in case of a medical emergency. Patients from other nations including Argentina, Australia, Italy and Hungary were occasionally treated at each location, as they were co-located with the UK troops.
Pte Ricketts approaching the half marathon finish line in Pafos 8 March 15
Deploying for the winter OP TOSCA meant the climate was almost perfectly suited for a regiment from Northern England. The risk of heat injury was mitigated by a graduated physical training programme run by the regimental PTIs, and not a single heat injury was seen. Unfortunately swimming training was cancelled due to the LPH swimming pool being out of action, but at least this meant there were no cases of swimmers ear!
The OP TOSCA medical facilities worked closely with doctors from the Nicosia region, including deployed doctors from the other UN nations, as well as the Greek-Cypriot doctors working as the point of access to the Cypriot medical facilities. On several occasions we were kindly hosted by our international colleagues, and friendships were formed through shared experience. Deployed UK soldiers and officers had access to some of the secondary care hospitals of Nicosia, as well as to dentists and physiotherapy at more than one location. Although nobody wishes to
take home a physiotherapy program as a souvenir from a deployment, the treatment
Pte, Cpl, Cpl Ricketts, Lax, Beaumont half marathon finish line celebration 8 March 15
received by the regiment was of the highest quality.
The medical centre still managed to
find time for twice daily physical training, and took part in the Adventurous Training courses run, culminating in most of the medical team running the Cyprus half marathon in March 2015. The training runs provided the opportunity to explore the beautiful environment. The medical team were also enthusiastic participants of the Padre’s weekly cultural activities, ranging from church visits to the Nicosia chocolate festival. As the ultimate team building exercise the RMO, Major Daniel Murphy, invited the medical centre to his wedding, arranged in the picturesque Cypriot surroundings.
Overall the OP TOSCA experience provided UK medical staff with further primary health care experience, training for field cover (in a built up area), the chance to work with and treat international personnel, as well as physical, adventurous and cultural experiences.
Capt McLachlan enjoying a UN helicopter flight April 15
Cyprus half marathon starting line in Pafos 8 March 15
THE MERCIAN EAGLE
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