Thousands more troops to join battle for NHS
THOUSANDS of troops will move into the frontline of the fight against coronavirus this week after more than 70 regional health authorities applied for military help.
The Ministry of Defence will deploy 20,000 Armed Forces personnel to help the NHS and will call up a further 3,000 reservists this week.
The boots on the ground will help build temporary mortuaries and field hospitals, such as the 4,000-bed Nightingale at London’s EXCEL centre.
Lt Gentyrone Urch, who will lead the Army’s response from a bunker in Aldershot, revealed that his daughter Lauren is one of the frontline NHS workers at a hospital in Bath.
In a morale-boostingtwitter exchange he told her: “Thank you very much for everything you’ve done. So proud.”the
AVETERANS’ charity has introduced therapy sessions via phone and online for post-traumatic stress sufferers during the “pressure-cooker” lockdown.
PTSD Resolution has brought in the new service after a successful trial with people in isolated locations.
The charity’s campaigns director Patrick Rea said the virus had raised fears that veterans cut off from close pals could cause their partners and children
Armed Forces’ effort was further bolstered last night when the Royal Navy also pledged to offer 6,000 staff to the cause – as well as 650 Marines.
More than 20 military helicopters have also been pre-positioned around the also to suffer. He explained: “They’re deprived of these ways of letting off steam.the situation becomes a pressure cooker. Continuing therapy is more important than ever.”
PTSD Resolution chairman Colonel Tony Gauvain said continued treatment for those living alone is also vital as the lockdown “is a recipe for disaster”.
The charity has helped 3,000 sufferers. To donate visit ptsdresolution.org
country to help deliver supplies and airlift seriously ill patients from remote areas, such as the Highlands and isolated parts of Wales and thewest Country.
The Nightingale field hospital is the first of 14 which have been commissioned across the Uk.troops have already begun to convert the Gmex centre in Manchester, Birmingham’s NEC, the Scottish Event Campus in Glasgow, and the Principality Stadium inwales.
They will collectively add another 10,000 NHS beds. More hospitals in other parts of the country have also been approved.
Paperwork seen by this newspaper reveals that 40 Commando RM, the Duke of Lancaster Regiment, and elements of the Royal Logistics Corps are being trained to drive specialist lorries and deliver oxygen to the NHS.
But it has also emerged that some military personnel have already been asked not to wear their uniforms, over fears it may unduly alarm the public.
Eighty troops were told to dress down when driving ambulances in support of the South Central Ambulance Service across Oxford and Swindon this week.