Page 7 - QARANC Vol 14 No 7 2013

Following a secondary education provided by the British Forces Education Service in Germany, John Wilmot Grammar School in Sutton Coldfield and the Central Foundation Boys’ Grammar School in London Colonel David commenced nurse training at the Princess Alexandra’s School of Nursing centred in the London Hospital, Whitechapel in 1979. During this time he volunteered to be a Medical Assistant and later was employed as a Medical Storeman in 257 (Southern) General Hospital (Volunteers) supporting the UK Mobile Force before joining the Regular Army in 1981 to continue his nurse training qualifying in 1984.
Colonel David’s first job as a staff nurse was in Orthopaedics at the Queen Elizabeth Military Hospital Woolwich (QEMH), coupled with a sojourn as the resuscitation nurse in the British Forces Belize Field Surgical Team, he quickly gained a passion for burns and plastic surgery from his experience caring for casualties evacuated from Operation CORPORATE in 1982 as well as his exposure to orthopaedics and trauma in the height of the ‘Troubles’ in Northern Ireland. He developed his practice in this discipline working in the Burns Unit at QEMH and following qualification as a burns and plastic surgery nurse at St Andrew’s Hospital, Billericay in 1987. Following commissioning in 1988 his burns experience and its association with intensive care led Colonel David to adopt a strong interest in the ‘sub-discipline’ of Nuclear Biological and Chemical Warfare (NBC) medicine which he was called upon to share with his fellow clinicians during Operation GRANBY in 1990-91 having been posted to 4 Armoured Field Ambulance originally as a Dressing Station Commander.
Colonel David led two Short Term Training Teams to Malawi in 1991 and 1992 to provide medical training support to Malawian troops operating in Mozambique, he then deployed with his unit to the Serbian Krajina in support of the UN Protection Force (UNPROFOR) as a Regimental Medical Officer Assistant (RMO(A) which was quickly followed by a posting back to QEMH to take command of the Burns and Plastic Surgery Unit along with 56/57 Burns Team. This included another RMO(A) deployment this time with 40 Commando
Royal Marines in Fort Whiterock, West Belfast. Colonel David then moved the Burns Team to Royal Naval Hospital Haslar in 1996 where they worked in Intensive Care, he moved around the hospital taking charge of the orthopaedic and trauma ward which included plastic surgery before setting up the post of Clinical Effectiveness Manager and completing the Junior Command and Staff Course in 1999.
This resulted in a posting to 22 Field Hospital as Officer Commanding Clinical Squadron, a period as Second - in – Command of the unit and the Role 3 Multi National Integrated Medical Unit (R3MIMU) in Sipovo, Bosnia (2000). He then commanded the Forward Support Group Hospital in the Oman providing real medical support during Exercise SAIF SAREEA in 2001 and was also responsible for planning the US/UK integrated medical facility in Camp BONDSTEEL. His first staff job was in the Directorate of Equipment Capability NBC Defence where Colonel David was responsible for managing and developing the medical surveillance, countermeasures, diagnostics and treatments applied research programme, notably the first nurse to be appointed in this area. He was then selected for promotion to Lieutenant Colonel and appointed Commanding Officer of the Duke of Connaught Unit in Belfast which was followed by a Grade 1 Staff job as the force protection lead in HQ Surgeon General including leading the medical in effort Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear defence, medical intelligence and environmental industrial hazards, the first non-doctor to be appointed.
Selection for promotion to Colonel in 2009 led to him being assigned as Regional Clinical Director to Wessex Region Army Primary Health Care Service and latterly as Defence Nursing Advisor to the Surgeon General. Colonel David has also been involved with the development of the Humanitarian Assistance and Stabilisation agenda during this time as well as evaluating novel ways of accessing care in overseas stations such as Cyprus.
Colonel David is married to Helen, an ex-QA (1980-86), they are both keen historians, gardeners, cooks and downhill skiers who enjoy world travel.
THE GAZETTE QARANC 5
Biography – Colonel David C Bates ARRC BN MMedEd FIHM L/QARANC
QARANC Association Central Committee
The QARANC Association is managed by a Board of Trustees - The Central Committee consists of 14 members which included both serving and retired members of the Corps:
• Col David Bates DANS President (Ex-Officio)
• Col Sue Bush Col Commandant (Ex-Officio)
• WO1 (CRSM) D Martin (Ex-Officio)
• Mrs Heather Duncombe Regimental Secretary of QARANC (Ex-
Officio)
• Lt Col (Retd) Pauline Novak Vice President
• Lt Col (Retd) Lesley Wright Chairman
• Lt Col (Retd) Clare Fenby Vice Chairman
• Lt Col Jayne Cumming Senior Serving Member
• Lt Col Anthony McGrath Serving TA Member
• Maj Chantel Whelan Serving Member (Chattels)
• Maj (Retd) Moira Dixon Elected member
• Maj (Retd) Dottie Calderwood Elected Member
• Mrs Karen Eifflaender Elected Member* (third year of first term)
• Mrs Julia Jones Elected member *Due for re-election Oct 2013
Meetings are held 4 times a year at the Union Jack Club London. All members of the Committee serve for three years and if eligible for re-nomination if desired until completion of six years.
The QARANC Association:
• Supports serving members on operations and
also give grants for adventure training and
sporting activities.
• Receives request for financial assistance
from both serving and retired members via SSAFA, RBL, ABF and other agencies. Grants given include help towards household items, disability living aids and personal items.
• Maintains and supports the ethos and traditions of the Corps and assists in raising the Corps’ profile.