Final Address: Closure of the Bastion Role 3 on 22 Sep 2014

摘要

Sir, Ma'am, fellow colleagues. For all of us here, especially medics, Afghanistan has been the defining operation of our military generation. It has been the catalyst which has catapulted us to the forefront of battlefield trauma care world wide. This building, the Bastion Role 3, has been at the heart of that development. A development which has been a multinational endeavour, which has seen UK, US, Danes and Estonians standing shoulder to shoulder, creating a whole new paradigm in medical care; one that has set the bar incredibly high and has reassured those soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines who put themselves in harm's way that, should they stumble or fall, we will be there to catch them. This conflict has touched us all, if not through the passing of those brave individuals who gave their lives, then through contact with the many more who have had their lives changed forever by their injuries. The BSN Role 3 has sat in the middle of that maelstrom. Many have started their long journey of recovery here in this hospital, it has been the site of incredible bravery for many patients and a place of great commitment and compassion for many of the staff. Huge medical advances have been achieved in this hospital: a 98% survival rate that has been unrivalled in history. But there have also been difficult times. A friend once told me, 'Wherever you are in Helmand, across a six month tour, there will be bad days, days when you may lose people; but spare a thought for the Bastion Role 3 that receives everyone's bad days.' But despite that emotional burden, personnel working at the hospital have held the line, remained committed and continued to deliver the best care possible.