A HUGE tented field hospital complete with resuscitation bays, an operating theatre and isolation ward has sprung up in Elvington near York.

Army medics put up the hospital with nearly 100 soldiers from 34 Field Hospital taking part in the exercise, working through various scenarios while other personnel and amputees acted as “casualties” to test the procedures.

Normally based at Queen Elizabeth Barracks, Strensall, the unit has completed several tours running field hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The current field hospital in Camp Bastion is a permanent structure, meaning there has been no need for the medics to set up a tented hospital, so the unit set up its tent, unpacking it from containers to check them and familiarise all the staff with the layout.

The hospital, one of the smallest layouts, consists of two six-bed wards, two resuscitation bays, an operating theatre, two intensive care beds and an isolation ward. There is also a dental surgery, pathology laboratory and other support services. Extra wards can be added if needed.

Lieutenant Colonel Tim Davies, who hands over command of 34 Field Hospital to Lieutenant Colonel Jaish Mahan next week, said: “Just as you would check the family tent and equipment before using it, we are doing the same but on a grander scale. I have been pleased with the way the reinforcement personnel have worked.”

The “casualties” arrived on foot, by military ambulance and in a Lynx military helicopter. The exercise was overseen by staff from Strensall-based 2 Medical Brigade.