Provision of Seagoing Professional Medics

The humanitarian operations within the Mediterranean and Aegean Seas were extended with additional vessels being deployed on behalf of UK Government to support NATO led operations. This in practice saw Border Force deploy its own vessel HMC Protector and two leased vessels, VOS Grace and Fastnet Sentinel. The operations are aimed at rescuing migrants who are located at sea in unsafe conditions. Once migrants are located the vessels need to be able to respond to the immediate needs of the individuals rescued. A key element of that is to ensure that they receive any immediate medical assistance necessary. To support that, Border Forcer required the provision of medics to all three vessels who will undertake the immediate medical care needed for rescued persons and ship’s crew. Whilst the Border Force crew have a level of basic training with regards to medical care, the needs of the rescued individuals often need a more specialised skill set.

Medical assistance needs to be available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week for the full deployment of each vessel. It is essential that rescued migrants receive immediate urgent healthcare, where required, following rescue. Many of these migrants have been at sea in unsafe conditions for a significant period of time and may present symptoms of exposure and dehydration as well as other conditions and injuries. Dependent upon the point of rescue, the sailing time back to shore and other medical facilities can be very significant.