2nd Medical Brigade (United Kingdom)

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2nd Medical Brigade
Emblem of the 2nd Medical Brigade (United Kingdom).svg
Brigade Tactical Recognition Flash
Active1 August 2002 – present
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
RoleMedical services
SizeBrigade
Part of1st (United Kingdom) Division
Brigade HQQueen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall

2nd Medical Brigade (2 Med Bde) 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.

History[]

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

The HQ has operational command of the 3 Regular Cadre field hospitals, 10 independent Reserve field hospitals, a medical evacuation regiment and 3 other specialist regiments. It also provides the enhanced medical operational command and control (C2) capability lost by the Army Medical Services (AMS).[2] 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.[3]

In March 2020, as part of Operation Rescript, 256 Field Hospital helped construct a temporary critical care hospital, named NHS Nightingale Hospital London, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom.[4]

Future[]

Under the Future Soldier programme announced on 25 November 2021, the brigade will be reduced to a Colonel's Command. Subsequently, many units will be moved under direct command of the divisions (see future structure below). The new command will be known as '2nd Medical Group'. In addition, the group will transfer from 1st Division to 'Field Army Troops', reporting directly to Commander Field Army. The role of the group was described as follows: "The 2nd Medical Group will generate field hospitals and task-organised medical support to the deployed force. It will be significantly reinforced by Army Reserve multi-role medical regiments and specialist medical capabilities.[5]

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:

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.[10]

List of structures[]

References[]

  1. ^ "Strategic Defence Review" (PDF). Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  2. ^ "The British Army - Army Medical Services". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  3. ^ "Troops at the ready". Archived from the original on 20 December 2014. Retrieved 20 December 2014.
  4. ^ "Coronavirus: Pictures Show Military Personnel Helping To Build NHS Nightingale". BFBS. 28 March 2020. Retrieved 12 August 2021.
  5. ^ "Future Soldier Guide" (PDF). United Kingdom Parliamentary Publications. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  6. ^ "The British Army - Royal Army Medical Corps". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  7. ^ "The British Army - Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  8. ^ "The British Army - Royal Army Dental Corps". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  9. ^ "The British Army - Royal Army Veterinary Corps". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 14 April 2017.
  10. ^ Wilcox, Robert A; Whitham, Emma M (15 April 2003). "The symbol of modern medicine: why one snake is more than two". Annals of Internal Medicine. 138: 673–7. doi:10.7326/0003-4819-138-8-200304150-00016. PMID 12693891. Retrieved 15 June 2007.
  11. ^ Mackinlay, Gordon Angus (1 July 2007). ""A Moment in Time": The British Army at a Moment in Time – 1 July 2007, A look at and from it of the Makeup of the Regular and Territorial Army". Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  12. ^ a b Ministry, of Defence (July 2013). "Transforming the British Army an Update" (PDF). Parliamentary Publishments. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  13. ^ "1st Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Brigade". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  14. ^ "Force Troops Command Hanbook". British Army. Upavon, Wiltshire, United Kingdom: British Army. Retrieved 26 November 2021.
  15. ^ "Future Soldier Guide" (PDF). United Kingdom Parliamentary Publications. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
  16. ^ "2 Medical Group". www.army.mod.uk. Retrieved 25 November 2021.

External links[]

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