2nd Medical Brigade (United Kingdom)

2nd Medical Brigade is a formation of the British Army formed under 1st UK Division. It predominantly provides deployed hospital care via 13 Field Hospitals. It also provides specialist medical capabilities via three Nationally Recruited Units; 306 Hospital Support Regiment, 335 Medical Evacuation Regiment and Medical Operational Support Group.

2nd Medical Brigade
Active1 August 2002 -
CountryUnited Kingdom
Allegiance United Kingdom
Branch British Army
RoleMedical services
Size13 Field Hospitals, 3 specialist medical units
Part of1st UK Division[1]
Garrison/HQQueen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall
Nickname(s)2 Med Bde
Commanders
Current
commander		Brigadier Antony Finn[2]

History

Headquarters 2nd Medical Brigade was initially formed at Imphal Barracks, York under the title of The Medical Group on 1 April 2000, as a consequence of the Strategic Defence Review.[3] It was re-titled Headquarters 2nd Medical Brigade on 1 August 2002.

The HQ has operational command of the 3 Regular Cadre field hospitals, 10 independent Reserve field hospitals, a medical evacuation regiment and 2 other specialist units. It also provides the enhanced medical operational command and control (C2) capability lost by the Army Medical Services (AMS).[4] The brigade has significantly raised the quality of pre-deployment medical training, seeing it provide a high standard of field medical care at field hospitals in Afghanistan.[5]

Organisation

The brigade includes the following units:[6]

  • Regular Army Units
    • 22 Field Hospital in Aldershot
    • 33 Field Hospital in Gosport - (A written statement in December 2016 stated that it will be rationalised, with all manpower in this unit being redeployed to other areas of the British Army.[7])
    • 34 Field Hospital in Strensall
  • Local Army Reserve Units
    • 201 (Northern) Field Hospital (Volunteers) Field Hospital in Newcastle (paired with 34 Field Hospital)
    • 202 (Midlands) Field Hospital in Birmingham (paired with 22 Field Hospital)
    • 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital in Cardiff (paired with 33 Field Hospital)
    • 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital in Belfast (paired with 34 Field Hospital)
    • 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital in Glasgow (paired with 34 Field Hospital)
    • 207 (Manchester) Field Hospital in Manchester (paired with 22 Field Hospital)
    • 208 (Liverpool) Field Hospital in Liverpool (paired with 22 Field Hospital)
    • 212 (Yorkshire) Field Hospital in Sheffield (paired with 34 Field Hospital)
    • 243 (Wessex) Field Hospital in Keynsham (paired with 33 Field Hospital)
    • 256 (City of London) Field Hospital in Walworth (paired with 33 Field Hospital)
  • Nationally Recruited Army Reserve Units
    • 306 Hospital Support Regiment - (paired with the Regular field hospitals)
    • 335 Medical Evacuation Regiment - (paired with 1, 4 and 5 Armoured Medical Regiments)
    • Medical Operational Support Group

Emblem

The centre cross within the emblem represents the Red Cross, under which the majority of the AMS operates in accordance with the Geneva Conventions.

Each arm of the Cross represents one of the four corps that make up the Army Medical Services, which are:

  • Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC)[8]
  • Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC)[9]
  • Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC)[10]
  • Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC)[11]

The Rod and the Serpent - The centre of the emblem depicts the Rod of Aesculapius who lived in ancient Greece in the year 1256BC. Aesculapius was known in ancient Greece as the father of medicine and was raised to God status according to Greek mythology. The serpent was revered by the ancient Greeks as having healing powers and combined with the Rod of Aesculapius has been recognised as the international symbol of medicine and healing since 1200BC.

References
  1. "1st UK Division". army.mod.uk. British Army. 1 August 2019. Retrieved 1 August 2019.
  2. "No. 62762". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 September 2019. p. 16147.
  3. "Strategic Defence Review" (PDF). Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  4. "The British Army - Army Medical Services". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  5. "Troops at the ready". Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  6. "2 Medical Brigade". Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  7. "Strategic Defence and Security Review - Army:Written statement - HCWS367 - UK Parliament". Parliament.uk. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
  8. "The British Army - Royal Army Medical Corps". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  9. "The British Army - Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  10. "The British Army - Royal Army Dental Corps". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  11. "The British Army - Royal Army Veterinary Corps". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
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