RAF celebrates National Doctors’ Day

Members of the RAF’s medical team who were credited as part of the celebrations include Group Captain Green, Squadron Leader Branchfield, Flight Lieutenant Eager, Flying Officer Jones, and Wing Commanders Hall, Woolley, Lax and Leaming.

Group Captain Andy Green is employed as the RAF’s only Clinical Microbiologist. Green also works as a Consultant in Clinical Microbiology and the Director of Infection Prevention and Control for the Ministry of Defence and acts as an Adviser to the Surgeon General on all aspects of infectious diseases and their control, including biological warfare.

Wing Commander Lax is a Consultant in the Critical Care Air Support Team, responsible for the repatriation of critically ill service personnel back to the UK.  He is also a Consultant in Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine, Anaesthetics, and Intensive Care Medicine, and has worked in several Major Trauma Centers across the UK and USA.

Wing Commander Woolley plans and deploys RAF medical support to defence activity, from fast-jet exercises to international conflict, and oversees the global aeromedical evacuation of all entitled persons.

Incredible staff providing life-saving care

Wing Commander Hall is part of Joint Hospital Group North and works clinically as a Consultant Intensive Care Physician and Anaesthetist.  Whilst not deployed, he cares for critically ill and injured patients.

Wing Commander Leaming is the Senior Medical Officer at RAF Coningsby, providing Aviation and Occupational Medical advice to patients, staff, and their families; this ranges from advice for fit-to-fly pilot or fit-to-deploy injured personnel, to 24/7 crash cover aid for an airfield.

Squadron Leader Branchfield was deployed for eight weeks to Operation Rescript, to assist the NHS in vaccinating over 6,000 London civilians against Covid.

Flight Lieutenant Eager is an Anaesthetic Trainee in the West Midlands, on placement with the Research and Clinical Innovation Unit in Birmingham.  He is also participating in a Tri-Service all ranks medical research expedition skiing to the South Pole, performing valuable research on cold weather and altitude physiology with direct implications for defense and for hospital medicine.

Flying Officer Jones joined the UAS after being awarded a cadetship whilst at medical school. She has experienced life as an RAF Officer for nearly two years; developing her skills and forming long-lasting friendships.