TERRITORIAL Army medics who have been deployed to field hospitals in combat zones across the world have received long service medals at a ceremony in York.

Two soldiers were also awarded operational service medals for a tour of duty in Iraq earlier this year, while one received an operational service medal after recently returning from Afghanistan.

The ceremony for members of 212 Field Hospital Royal Army Medical Corp took place at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, in Strensall, on Saturday.

The medals were presented by 212 Field Hospital’s Honorary Colonel, Col Sir Andrew Cash, who is chief executive of the Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust.

Captain Steve Shaw, officer commanding the York detachment of 212 Field Hospital, based at Worsley Barracks, in Fulford, said: “These are NHS staff who sacrifice their own time and leave their families behind to go out and literally save soldiers’ lives.

“They are not on the front line, they man the field hospital and treat the casualties once they have been brought back from the front line.

“Any health professional you find in a normal hospital, you will find in a field hospital – we need everything from doctors and nurses to anaesthetists, orthopaedic surgeons and physiotherapists, as well as mental health nurses to deal with battlefield trauma.”

He said all Territorial Army soldiers must carry out a minimum of 27 days’ training a year, including a two-week annual training camp.

Volunteer Reserve Service Medals are awarded to medics who have served ten years in the Territorial Army. 212 Field Hospital is currently recruiting all medical professionals, especially in the trauma field. Anybody interested should phone Captain Mike Rutkowski on 01904 668228 or 07771 958311 or by email at 212hosp-roso@mod.uk