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16 NAVY NEWS, FEBRUARY 2010
All eyes on revamped Argus
A REVAMPED RFA Argus medical-grade oxygen on tap –
has been putting her new
instead of carrying liquid
systems to the test in
oxygen supplies, which are
Portland Harbour.
volatile and bulky, these
Equipped with the
devices use molecular sieve
latest medical technology
technology to separate air
following a £37 million
into pure oxygen.
refit, the aviation
One of Argus’ former
training ship has an
aircraft lifts has been
important alternative
transformed into a
role as a primary
new casualty reception
casualty receiving
area and patient lift.
facility.
Here triage can be
In theory she could be
carried out before the
deployed anywhere on the
casualty is transferred to the
world’s seas and oceans to provide
hospital in the new lift, which is
treatment for up to 100 casualties
designed to operate in conditions
up to a sea state 7, ensuring
– a role she carried out during Op
the swift and efficient transfer
Telic in Iraq, when she acquired
of casualties from flight deck to
the nickname ‘BUPA Baghdad’.
medical complex. ● Argus’ revamped hospital facilities
Stationed off the coast of a
Picture: Andrew Linnett (DE&S)
Kevin Murray, RFA Cluster
war zone or humanitarian disaster,
Support Team Leader at the
of her sustaining damage. Maritime and Coastguard Agency,
Argus can provide a wide range of
MOD, said: “The medical support
So an important part of the who also used the exercise to test
services, from simple medication
Argus can provide to troops on
refit involved installing a Marine their own response procedures, the
up to major surgery, for wounded
operations is a crucial capability
Evacuation System (MES) – trial was an important test that we
troops or civilians thanks to a
that can make all the difference
inflatable chutes similar to those can safely complete an evacuation
highly-trained military surgical
when time is of the essence.
fitted to commercial airliners. in the required timescales.
team in hospital facilities as “Having the highest standard
The MES must be able to “However, it is just one part of
advanced as many found on land. of medical kit onboard gives the
evacuate the ship in 80 minutes, passing our readiness for sea tests,
The ship has a full three-bed edge in the effective treatment of
so the Portland Harbour trial and the ship’s company and I are
operating theatre, and new kit casualties.
saw 100 volunteers, including just looking forward to getting
includes a state-of-the-art CT “The CT scanner is taking
a number of project staff from back to sea with this fantastically-
scanner and sterilisation unit for particular prominence in the
Abbey Wood, braving the equipped ship and returning to
surgical equipment. treatment of modern war casualties,
December weather to abandon our duties.
● The new Marine Evacuation System fi tted to RFA Argus during
A new oxygen concentrator and the new one we have installed
ship via the chutes into life “As well as support to troops,
her refi t Picture: A&P Group
plant also ensures that staff have is the latest technology.
rafts below, including some on Argus can be deployed to
“It’s situated at the entrance stretchers simulating casualties. humanitarian disaster relief zones
of the hospital, alongside the Once full, the rafts were and will be ready if called on to
X-ray room, for a logical flow marshalled away to where the help in the upcoming hurricane
through the treatment facilities occupants could be rescued and season.”
– from assessment of the injury taken to safety, while others The refit, which was carried out
through to intensive care, to the were airlifted out by Merlin at the A&P shipyard in Falmouth,
high dependency unit and finally helicopter. began in January 2009 under a
to the general ward.” Argus’ Commanding Officer five-year contract for the upkeep
Argus is required to have proven Capt Paul Kehoe RFA said: “With of RFA Argus and the four Bay-
evacuation procedures in the event the help of the RNLI and the class assault support ships.
● RFA Argus during evacuation exercises in Portland Harbour Picture: Andrew Linnett (DE&S)
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● Volunteer ‘casualties’ gather on the deck of RFA Argus during evacuation procedure exercises carried
out in Portland Harbour Picture: A&P Group
016_NN_feb.indd 1 20/1/10 16:37:54
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