"Stop dying at once and when you get up, get your bloody hair cut".

Colonel AD Wintle to Trooper Cedric Mayes (Royal Dragoons) The patient lived for another 40 years

In peace, the personnel of the RAMC are based at the various medical installations throughout the world or in field force units and they are responsible for the health of the Army. In January 2006 the establishment for the

In January 2006 the RAMC had a regular Army establishment of some 3,270 personnel and a strength of 2,910 (950 x officers and 1,860 other ranks).

Role

The primary role of the Corps is the maintenance of health and the prevention of disease. On operations, the RAMC is responsible for the care of the sick and wounded, with the subsequent evacuation of the wounded to hospitals in the rear areas. Each Brigade has a medical squadron which is a regular unit that operates in direct support of the battlegroups. These units are either armoured, airmobile or parachute trained. In addition, each division has two TA field ambulance units that provide medical support for the divisional troops and can act as manoeuvre units for the forward brigades when required.

Force Structure

All medical squadrons have medical sections that consist of a medical officer and eight Combat Medical Technicians. These sub units are located with the battlegroup or units being supported and they provide the necessary first line medical support. In addition, the field ambulance provides a dressing station where casualties are treated and may be resuscitated or stabilised before transfer to a field hospital. These units have the necessary integral ambulance support, both armoured and wheeled to transfer casualties from the first to second line medical units.

Field hospitals may be regular or TA and all are 200 bed facilities with a maximum of 8 surgical teams capable of carrying out life-saving operations on some of the most difficult surgical cases. Since 1990, most regular medical units have been deployed on operations either in Iraq, Afghanistan or the former Yugoslavia.

Casualty Evacuation (CASEVAC) is by ambulance either armoured or wheeled and driven by RLC personnel or by helicopter when such aircraft are available. A Chinook helicopter is capable of carrying 44 stretcher cases and a Puma can carry 6 stretcher cases and 6 sitting cases.

During early 2006 the Regular element of the RAMC was capable of providing 8 x major units (5 x Medical Regiments and 3 x Hospitals). The TA provides up to 15 x Hospitals and Field Ambulances.

On 1 April 1992, the QARANC became an all-nursing and totally professionally qualified Corps. Its male and female officer and other rank personnel provide the necessary qualified nursing support at all levels covering a wide variety of nursing specialities. 

QARANC personnel can be found anywhere in the world where Army medical services are required.

During early 2006 the QARANC strength was approximately 840 all ranks.

The RADC fulfils the essential role of maintaining the dental health of the Army in peace and war, both at home and overseas. Qualified dentists and oral surgeons, hygienists, technicians and support ancillaries work in a wide variety of military units from static and mobile dental clinics to field medical units, military hospitals and dental laboratories.

During early 2006 the RADC strength was approximately 370 all ranks (approximately 110 officers).