The volunteer medics currently preparing to head to the Helmand province region are part of Territorial Army 243 (The Wessex) Field Hospital Unit, based near Bristol. They will be away for three months.

The unit, which includes nurses, surgeons, radiographers, doctors and Headquarters support staff such as managers and drivers, will be working to ensure injured personnel, both from UK and other ISAF forces as well as local Afghanis get the very best in medical care.

It is the first time that 243 (The Wessex) Field hospital Unit has mobilised and deployed as a whole unit. Just before deploying to Camp Bastion the Unit undertook a final pre-deployment exercise in York and are now set to deploy to theatre.

Commanding Officer, Colonel David Morgan-Jones said:

"243 Field Hospital is a flexible 50 bedded unit that can be deployed at relatively short notice anywhere in the world to operate as a hospital in the field - either under canvas or in vacant buildings - in support of the Army's defence effort, humanitarian or peacekeeping duties.

"The aim, now we're mobilised, is to provide the highest standards of medical care and treatment for casualties, whatever the environment or the mission. The unit is equipped and trained to provide a hospital complex complete with an A&E department, labs, X-Ray, operating theatres, ITU and wards with up to 50 bed capability.

"Many Territorial Army professionals take the opportunity to broaden their knowledge by working alongside their regular counterparts in British and NATO forces in many parts of the world. 243 Field Hospital is keen to work closely with NHS Trusts within our area and believe a symbiotic relationship can be easily developed. Army Medical Services personnel can be found wherever the field army are deployed on operations."

Among the volunteers deploying are Corporals Lorraine Burford and her partner Gary Lake, from Bristol. The couple, who between them have three children aged 14, 16 and 23, will deploy together for three months with Corporal Burford working as a military clerk and Corporal Lake, normally a carpenter, working as a specialist driver.

Corporal Burford said:

"We have a very supportive family who will look after the children when we are away and they understand what we're doing and why we are doing it. It is a real challenge but it's something we both feel we should do, we've trained for it and now we have the chance to do it. We're both really keen to go out and do a good job out there."

Corporal Lake added:

"I'm from an Army family and they have been very understanding which is great. We're both looking forward to putting our training into operation and 243 is a really good unit, which is a big help."

It is not the first deployment for the pair from Bedminster. Gary, 37, has served in Iraq and Bosnia and Lorraine has served in Iraq.

Corporal Janet Garland, a nurse from Taunton has a better reason than many to go to Afghanistan. Her nephew was seriously injured in Helmand in 2006 when his vehicle struck a mine but high quality medical care has helped put him back on the road to recovery.

Corporal Garland, 39, who normally works as a nurse in her local NHS hospital in Taunton joined the TA in 2006 and will deploy for the first time. She said:

"Its always been an ambition of mine to join the forces and I wanted to do it while I was still young enough. I know it was a Canadian Territorial Army nurse who looked after my nephew and I just wanted to give something back.

"We've all done a lot of training and I'm looking forward to getting out there and getting on with the job. We've got the training and the equipment and I'm looking forward to helping provide the best care we can and really help make a difference."

Yeovil radiographer Lieutenant Adrian Watkins, 45, will be on his second deployment having already been to Kosovo. Lt Watkins, a father of two who normally works for the NHS at Yeovil Hospital, said:

"There will be a lot of challenges out there and I'm slightly apprehensive but at the same time very enthusiastic and excited. It will be very busy out there and I'm looking forward to playing my part and using all my skills in what will be a very different environment."

Nick Raff, 34 from Bradley Stoke, is normally a nurse at Southmead Hospital in Bristol; he will deploy as a Nursing Officer. Originally from South Africa, Captain Raff has been in the TA for eight years with a brother in 39 Signals Regiment, another of Bristol's TA units. He said:

"I've always been interested in the Army and even thought about joining full time but I eventually decided that by being in the TA you get the best of both worlds."

A trained private helicopter pilot he added:

"In Southmead I am a pain management and recovery nurse and I'll be carrying out a similar role in Afghanistan though the environment will inevitably be very different and far more challenging. I'm looking forward to it though, the unit has a huge range of professional skills and will do a great job out there."

Becky Smith,  of Peasdown St John in Bath, will be taking a break from her job as a Ministry of Defence Human Resources Manager at Foxhill in Bath to deploy as a Squadron Sergeant Major:

"What I'm really looking forward to is the challenge, its why I joined the TA in the first place," she said. "I know we can deliver a really excellent level of care which is what our soldiers deserve."

Paediatric nurse Domini Knight from Nailsea near Bristol is normally a team leader at the Bristol Royal Hospital for Children and will be going to Afghanistan as a Detachment Commander, her first foreign operational deployment.

The 42-year-old Girl Guide leader said:

"I will mainly be helping look after adults but sadly some children have been injured so it is important that we have specialist paediatric skills available just in case. I'm looking forward to working with the rest of the unit, we all get on really well with each other and it's a real team which will be a big help."

The unit, though headquartered near Bristol, has squadrons located at Exeter, Plymouth and Portsmouth with detachments at Truro, Poole, Taunton and Gloucester.