The Army has praised the support of staff from University Hospital Aintree and Walton Hospital for helping save lives in Afghanistan.
Seven staff, including doctors and nurses, are currently volunteers with the Liverpool-based Territorial Army medical unit.
The reservists swap hospital life in Fazakerley or Walton for tours of duty on the Afghan frontline, dealing with military and civilian casualties.
Some medics fly direct into battle areas to give emergency treatment to wounded soldiers as part of the MERT (Medical Emergency Response Teams).
A large print of a painting called ‘Safe Return’ showing TA medics in action was given to the Trust in recognition of its support during a short presentation at University Hospital Aintree attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of Sefton, Councillors Alf Doran and Gillian Cuthbertson.
Colonel Peter Jackson, commanding officer of 208 (Liverpool) Field Hospital (Volunteers), said: “We are indebted to the support we receive from the hospitals helping provide first-class medical care to our soldiers on the frontline. They couldn’t do that without the support of their employer back at home.
“Everybody who joins the TA medics does so in anticipation that they can go and give care to the sick and wounded, often in arduous and harrowing circumstances. The staff from Aintree have been absolutely fantastic. They should be very proud of themselves and the Trust should be proud of them.”
James Birrell, chief executive of Aintree University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, which runs both hospitals, said: “Life-saving skills developed here at the hospitals are being used in a crucial way in Afghanistan and elsewhere. This is a voluntary decision by our staff and we give them our full support.
“We value our association with the TA and look forward to further developing this relationship. I’d like to thank the Army on behalf of our staff for this magnificent print - it will take pride of place in our Clinical Sciences Centre.”
The Trust is given up to 18 months’ advance notice of staff called up and the Ministry of Defence pay for cover. Volunteers consist of consultants, surgeons, nurses, doctors, radiographers, biomedical scientists, anaesthetists, general medics, healthcare assistants, burns specialists and paramedics.
Anyone wishing to find out more about TA medics can ring the 208 (Liverpool) Field Hospital (Volunteers) on 0151 488 6655.
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