Page 31 - QARANC Vol 14 No 8 2014

MDHU Northallerton
This has been another busy period for the unit, from Summer Fetes to Battlefield Tour, Military Exercises and Adventure Training as well as visits and disaster Exercise!
August provided us with typical Yorkshire weather and the sun shone down, although the temperature remained about 12 degrees, just the weather for a Summer Fete!! But amongst the tea and cakes, face painting and very competitive sports (some parents took it a little seriously resulting in a Sumo fight off – I won’t name names!!) there were a number of stalls including DMWS, Swaildale Mountain Rescue and British Legion Bikers. The afternoon concluded in Col Wright starting the Raffle Draw, just before the rain started. It was nice to see some of our retired members attending as well as Unit personnel working and playing hard.
In September Maj Truscott led the military input to Ex Smoke Screen which was a multi agency emergency exercise based on evacuation of a ward due to ‘fire and smoke’. Not only did Unit personnel play a role in staffing the ward along side civilian counterparts but due to skill full make up by SSgt Quigley and Maj Truscott poetic licence they played patients whose ailments included bed bound bariatric patient, palliative patient, CVA and patients with mental Health. It was felt they were well suited to their roles and Oscar nominations are being considered! LCpl Raferty was identified as the arsonist, Maj Fletcher a paranoid schizophrenic who absconded (no comments!) and LCpl Beecham had such a realistic Cardiac Arrest the Crash team tried to cannulate her! Nursing staff on the ward had been completely in the dark with relation to what was going to happen and were tested to the maximum in command and control. As a result both Lt Keenan and Cpl Garton received a Commanding Officers Commendation. Maj Truscott was also interviewed on local television and did an excellent job over the year it took to plan and table exercise.
Once recovered from Ex Smoke Screen the unit deployed on Ex Northern Challenge 3 which saw unit personnel tested in military skills witch included patrolling, advance to fire and NBC stand, as well as setting up and living out of a harbour area for 2 nights. We were blessed this year that the weather was kinder than 12 months previously when we were flooded in Yorkshire. Northern Challenge is basic military skills based and enables the DS staff to assess leadership as well as build the confidence of those who feel they need it. The Ex was split into two weeks so as to reduce disruption to the normal duties within MDHUN however everyone was kept busy. On the first week the Visit day was attended by Col Bates (DANS), Surg Commodore Buxton (Commander DMG) and Maj General Carmichael (DGAMS) who saw the troops complete a final attack as the culmination of the Military phase of the Ex. After the troops refreshed each week they had a BBQ before heading out on adventure training which
comprised of Mountain biking, walking, white water rafting and clay pigeon shooting.
During the second week of the Exercise concurrent activity included a liaison visit from the Commanding Officer of Utrecht Military Hospital NL Army, which was led by Surg Commodore Buxton (Cmdr DMG). The purpose of this visit was to observe a MDHU as this is a route the Netherland Military are looking at adopting. The visit started with a meal in the WO and Sgts Mess, followed by informal chat the evening before. The next day comprised of presentations and then a visit to James Cook University Hospital where the majority of our Military Clinicians are working and a visit to a number of clinical areas. The team went away with some interesting ideas to expand on.
Never a Unit to sit back and relax, in October under Capt Zoe Thompson a number of Unit personnel took part in a Battlefield Tour in Flanders and Western Front. There is a separate article, as a couple of lines really would not do it justice. What can I say is if you ever get the opportunity to go on a Battlefield Tour, go it was grounding to say the least.
Maj General Rowan (Assistant Chief of Staff (Health)) was kind enough to attend the Unit for a medals parade in October. Sgt Smith (RAMC) and SSgt Quigley(QARANC) received their LS and GC and Maj Good received his ACSM medal and the following received their OSM Afghan Medal with Rosette; LCpl Beecham, LCpl Fischer, Cpl Lawton, Cpl Pedley, Sgt Kemp, Lt Col Hay, Lt Col McLennan and Col Ramalingham.
This event was closely followed by a Military study day in Strensal which provided and insight for those who have not yet deployed to the layout and configuration of a Role 3 hospital and understand some of the Challenges faced in Operational Medicine. Exercise Northern Cross 8 soon followed where again we utilised facilities in AMSTC with their small scale Light manoeuvre Facility. Realistic casualties were sent thorough serials which demonstrated to some of our new unit members the challenges they would face on return to contingency.
Remembrance Parade came around fast and for the first time we paraded as a whole unit in Middlesbrough. This was an excellent parade and we were made more than welcome by the people of Middlesbrough and the British Legion. We were also represented by SSgt Quigley, Cpl Scott and LCpl Singh at the Festival of Remembrance at the Albert Hall as well as at Durham Cathedral Festival of Remembrance by Lt Perrin, WO2 Jenkins, Sgt Kirkwood and LCpl McKenzie. Prestigious events I am sure you will agree.
The year closed with a Unit Christmas Carol Service and Junior Ranks Christmas Dinner, which I am sure gets rowdier each year! We enjoyed a Christmas break and have come back ready for the challenges we will face this year, which include a move of RHQ to Catterick and Middlesbrough, whilst maintaining the military and Clinical development momentum. WO1 RSM Price
THE GAZETTE QARANC 29