Welsh Secretary praises UK's Armed Forces' support in Wales' fight against coronavirus
Wednesday, 8 April 2020 11:20
The role of armed forces personnel in the ongoing COVID-19 response
across Wales has been praised by Welsh Secretary Simon Hart. This
week, the Army in Wales began training with the Welsh Ambulance
Services NHS Trust (WAST) in Sennybridge, Mid Wales to assist
paramedics. Welsh Secretary Simon Hart said: The UK’s armed forces
are supporting...Request free trial
The role of armed forces personnel in the ongoing COVID-19
response across Wales has been praised by Welsh Secretary
. This week, the Army in
Wales began training with the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS
Trust (WAST) in Sennybridge, Mid Wales to assist
paramedics.
Welsh Secretary said:
The UK’s armed forces are supporting the critical
work of our NHS and social care workers and I would
like to extend my gratitude towards all those working
to tackle the coronavirus in Wales.
The military is providing the Welsh Government, our
ambulance services and the NHS with additional
support and expertise. Our armed forces’ personnel
are demonstrating selfless commitment and are doing a
great job at this incredibly difficult time. I am
humbled by their efforts and eternally thankful for
their support.
Defence Minister said:
We’re proud to be supporting our emergency services,
frontline NHS staff and councils across Wales in the
fight against COVID-19.
Whether it be supporting the Welsh Ambulance Service
or assisting in the build of new hospital capacity,
soldiers, sailors, airmen and airwomen from across
the UK are ready to assist with whatever is required
of us in Wales.
Armed forces’ support to tackle COVID-19 in Wales
includes:
- The Army in Wales is training 60 soldiers to
prepare to support the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS
Trust (WAST) in the battle against COVID-19. Military
ambulance drivers will be required to respond to
emergencies, assist the paramedics with non-clinical
tasks and drive ambulances when required.
- Military planning and liaison personnel are
deployed across Wales, including at the Welsh
Government’s Emergency Coordination Centre Wales in
Cardiff, the four Local Resilience Fora and the seven
Local Health Boards
- Military Assessment Teams have supported the NHS in
Wales’ development of field hospitals, including at the
Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
- Armed forces personnel drawn from each of the three
services have been training to drive oxygen tankers at
the Air Products facility in Port Talbot in order to
support the NHS.
- Up to 10,000 personnel have been placed at a higher
readiness across the UK, so they are able to assist
with supporting public services. This is on top of the
10,000 already held at higher readiness.
- Measures have been taken to enable the call out of
Reservists, should they be required to join the
response effort.
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