The Royal Navy Medical Service is the branch of the Royal Navy responsible for medical care. It works closely with Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service.
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Since the Royal Navy was officially established, the medical officers of the navy were segregated into surgeons and physicians. Every ship would carry a surgeon or assistant surgeon, who would have to treat patients, perform surgical procedures and prepare medications, but the more senior physicians would work either on a capital ship or in charge of a land based hospital. The current structure of ranking for medical officers was adopted in 1918.[1]
The medical branch today is made up of Medical Officers (physicians) and non-commissioned officers and ratings as medical assistants, who receive similar training to paramedics. Nursing services are provided for the navy by the QARNNS which works alongside the Medical Service, but is a separate organisation. In total, 1,522 personnel are employed by the service.[2]
It is currently commanded by Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis, the Medical Director General Naval; MDG(N).[3] The most senior medical officer in the British Armed Forces, the Surgeon-General, Surgeon Vice-Admiral Philip Raffaelli held this position until 2009.[4]
All ranks of the medical branch provide medical care onshore as well at naval shore establishments and with the royal marines.
Medical Assistants are deployed on all major warships and submarines of the Royal Navy, and provide primary care to the crew. They also have the role of training the crew in first aid.[5] Capital ships often carry non-commissioned medical technicians as part of the larger medical department, who perform laboratory work to aid the medical assistants and officers.[6]
Medical assistants can participate in land based medicine in the medical departments of the shore establishments or with the royal marines.
All medical assistants are ranked in the same manner as other ratings.
Capital ships (including aircraft carriers, LPHs) and larger submarines have separate medical departments permanently staffed by one or two medical officers, but they are embarked temporarily on smaller vessels when on a long operational tour.[7] Medical officers are ranked in the same manner as other officers, but wear red stripes between the gold on their epaulets, and have the title 'Surgeon' added to their rank (Surgeon Lieutenant for example). Although royal navy medical officers are qualified doctors, they do not use the Dr prefix, like those in other British military medical organisations.[8]