The British Army has combined three healthcare corps to further address the advanced medical requirements of warfighters.
The Royal Army Medical Service (RAMS) is a step to ensure that the military has a “unified, inclusive, and representative” healthcare unit matching the evolving battlespace while maintaining a streamlined, multidisciplinary healthcare offering and better organizational culture.
It will consist of personnel from the Royal Army Medical Corps, the Royal Army Dental Corps, and the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps, which were founded between the 1890s and 1920s.
The established principles between the old corps will remain, with the integration having no critical impact on either their military or civilian workforce numbers.
The Royal Veterinary Corps, which is dedicated to animal welfare, training, and related provisions, will maintain its independent operations at Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire.
“At the heart of this institutional modernisation will be culture and behaviour change to develop a single, agile workforce, appropriately educated to operate, fight and adapt in uncertainty that will deliver leading-edge developments in treatment and care,” Master General Army Medical Services Maj. Gen. Timothy Hodgetts explained.
Debut in November
The launch of RAMS will be spearheaded by a formation parade in November at the Royal Military Academy’s Regimental Headquarters in Sandhurst.
It will also exhibit new gear and equipment to be used under the medical service.
“The Government is committed to ensuring that our Army is structured to meet its purpose of protecting the nation and helping it prosper,” UK Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard stated.
“This change will deliver improvements for those serving and promote the world-class work of the Royal Army Medical Service. I thank all those who serve in the new Royal Army Medical Service for their professionalism, dedication and care they offer.”