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National Doctors Day 2022

Medics tend to patient with drip tube.
Head of the RAF Medical Services, Air Commodore Daborn,

This National Doctors’ Day 2022, the RAF is celebrating our Medical Services and the incredible staff providing dedicated expertise and life-saving care to our personnel. 

Head of the RAF Medical Services, Air Commodore Daborn, shares what it takes to be part of the RAF Medical Services family.

"A career as a Medical Officer in the Royal Air Force is both rewarding and fulfilling.  It is a highly varied and sometimes unpredictable journey which is frequently punctuated by postings, opportunities, and adventures. These will expose you to new areas of both medicine and leadership, to new challenges, and you will develop new competences and develop more confidence in those already held. Accompanying you on this varied journey, however, is the constant camaraderie and support of your many colleagues; focusing their collective efforts, with you, as One Team - to 'get the job done' - Nec Aspera Terrent ('Not Afraid of the Hard Things’)."

Air Commodore Daborn
Head of the RAF Medical Services

Below are a few of the individuals who form our One Team getting the job done.

Group Captain Green is a Consultant in Clinical Microbiology and the Director of Infection Prevention and Control for the Ministry of Defence.  He acts as an adviser to the Surgeon General on all aspects of infectious diseases and their control, including biological warfare.  Group Captain Green is currently the only Clinical Microbiologist in the RAF, but will recruit further into the role.  If you are interest please contact [email protected].

Personnel portrait.

Wing Commander Hall is part of Joint Hospital Group North and works clinically as a consultant intensive care physician and anaesthetist.  Whilst not deployed, he cares for critically ill and injured patients with the most severe injuries.

Medic wears visor and apron.

Wing Commander Woolley plans and deploys RAF medical support to Defence activity, from fast-jet exercises to international conflict, and oversees the global aeromedical evacuation of all entitled persons.

Personnel cross armed by Typhoon aircraft.

Wing Commander Lax is a Consultant in the Critical Care Air Support Team, responsible for the repatriation of critically ill service personnel back to the UK.  He is also a Consultant in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine, Anaesthetics, and Intensive Care Medicine, and has worked in several Major Trauma Centres across the UK and USA.

Personnel inside carrier aircraft tend to patient on stretcher.

Wing Commander Leaming is the Senior Medical Officer at RAF Coningsby, providing Aviation and Occupational Medical advice to patients, staff, and their families; this ranges from advice for fit-to-fly pilot or fit-to-deploy injured personnel, to 24/7 crash cover aid for an airfield.

Smiling personnel outside medical facility.

Squadron Leader Branchfield deployed for 8 weeks to Operation Rescript, to assist the NHS in vaccinating over 6000 London civilians against Covid.

Personnel smiling by Union Jack flag.

Flight Lieutenant Eager is an anaesthetic trainee in the West Midlands, on placement with the Research and Clinical Innovation Unit in Birmingham.  He is also participating in a Tri-Service all ranks medical research expedition skiing to the South Pole, performing valuable research on cold weather and altitude physiology with direct implications for Defence and for hospital medicine.

Personnel sits wearing skis on the snow.

Flying Officer Jones joined the UAS after being awarded a cadetship whilst at medical school.  She has experienced life as an RAF Officer for nearly 2 years; developing her skills and forming long-lasting friendships.

Smiling personnel by cockpit.

Thank-you for the work of all our RAF Medical Services

The RAF could sponsor your medical training with a Bursary or a Cadetship.  More details can be read here.