Royal Air Force Medical Services (RAFMS)

The RAFMS has been in existence almost from the creation of the RAF itself. The RAF Museum holds letters and papers on the establishment and pay of an Air Force Medical Service which were written in 1917. They also hold a number of reports on the inauguration and organisation of an Air Force Medical Service all dating from 1917 through to 1918.

The RAFMS enjoys a strong reputation in the field of aviation medicine. The RAFMS Centre for Aviation Medicine (CAM) at RAF Henlow provides aircrew with training and support to understand the physiological aspects of flight and its effect on the human body. Another key area of responsibility where the RAFMS is recognised as a leading proponent is casualty evacuation by air. In this latter field of medical specialisation, from World War 2 to the current Theatre of Operations in Afghanistan, the RAFMS has developed and provided one of the best capabilities in the world. Outwith areas of conflict, whilst serving abroad, men and women of the 3 single Services, their families and other entitled personnel can be brought home to the UK by the RAF’s worldwide aeromedical evacuation service.

Today, the RAFMS is lead by Chief of Staff Health / Director General Medical Services (RAF) (COS(H)/DGMS(RAF)) Air Vice-Marshal Christopher Morris and comprise of approximately 1800 personnel, providing a spectrum of medical, nursing, medical technical and medical support capabilities.

Vision: Quality Healthcare to sustain our Ability to Fly and Fight.

The Mission of the RAFMS is 'To maximise the numbers of Royal Air Force personnel fit for task and provide coherent and effective medical operational capability to facilitate an agile, adaptable and winning Air Force'. The COS(H) mission statement is 'to contribute to the Air Mission and Defence Medical Services outputs through the provision of high quality medical services'.

The majority of RAFMS personnel are employed in the support and provision of primary and secondary health care services in medical centres and hospitals in the UK and abroad. RAFMS personnel working in hospitals may be employed in either a Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit (MDHU) – a military facility within a civilian hospital or a NHS hospital. In addition some of our personnel are employed in both the peacetime and operational movement of casualties (aeromedical evacuation) from primary health care (described as Role 1 Medical Treatment Facilities (MTFs)) through to secondary health care units (described as Role 2 and Role 3 MTFs) back to the UK. Unless returning to the care of their parent units, military personnel will in most circumstances be admitted to the military Role 4 facilities of either Royal Centre for Defence Medicine (RCDM) at Birmingham (Queen Elizabeth Hospital) or the Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre at Headley Court.

For the RAFMS to succeed in its areas of responsibility, it must recruit and train its personnel to the highest possible standards. Following respective initial training, officers and other ranks will enter into their career pathway and undertake training specific to their role. Medical Officers either enter the Service fully qualified or are sponsored through their training by the RAF before entering full-time service and then will elect or be offered post-graduate training in fields such as aviation medicine other specialities that the RAF requires. Nurses may enter the RAF already civilian qualified or attend the RCDM Defence School of Healthcare Studies to undergo (military) nurse training. Again, they can elect for, or be selected to undergo further specialist training (such as primary healthcare nursing) relative to the Service need. Other medical technical trades and branches will usually enter the RAF pre-qualified (e.g. Physiotherapists and Radiographers). Medical Support Officers (MSOs) may enter as direct entrants or by commissioning from medical or other non-specialist trades. RAF Medics attend the Defence Medical Services Training Group at Keogh Barracks Aldershot for their trade training and will gain further qualifications as they progress in their military career.

In terms of operational focus, Tactical Medical Wing (TMW) at RAF Lyneham serves as the hub for both day-to-day business and support to exercises and operations and also providing pre-deployment and specific to role training (such as aeromedical evacuation) for RAFMS personnel. It comprises 4 squadrons; the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Operations and Logistics Squadron, Training and Support Squadron and the Deployable Aeromedical Response Team Squadron.

The RAFMS is not made up solely of Regular serving personnel but, in keeping with the wider RAF, has the support of the Royal Auxiliary Air Force (RAuxAF). The Reservist complement is made up of 4626 (County of Wiltshire) RAuxAF Sqn and 612 (County of Aberdeen) RAuxAF Sqn. Both squadrons provide personnel and capability to support aeromedical evacuation and deployed surgical support.

There are currently nearly one hundred RAFMS personnel deployed on or in support of operations, including Afghanistan (Operation HERRICK) as well the Falklands Islands, Ascension Island and other Overseas Territories.

In addition to its peacetime and operational roles, the RAFMS has also contributed to humanitarian and disaster relief operations across the globe, such as medical support following the earthquakes in Turkey and Pakistan.

The RAFMS has a challenging and exciting future. In line with the requirements of the Strategic Defence and Security Review (SDSR) it must develop and reshape itself to be able to continue to support both Air Power and the DMS whilst retaining its proven abilities as a Defence Enabler in its contribution to force generation and force protection.