Short term contract scheme aims to boost recruitment of expert military medical personnel

The Ministry of Defence has appointed a firm of remote site medical specialists, Frontier Medical to enhance medical support for UK forces overseas in a move designed to ensure more flexibility in recruiting civilian doctors, nurses and allied healthcare professionals to work in operational environments.

Short-term contracts with significant financial incentives are being offered through Frontier Medical to specialist nurses, doctors and surgeons who want to take up the opportunity to extend their experience with a brief rotation in a field hospital. The scheme is intended to offer real flexibility for doctors, nurses and other medical specialists with short-term contracts available for as little as three months.

Dr Phil Sharples at Frontier Medical is in charge of managing the military requirement and he believes the offer of short term contracts will suit many medical professionals looking to expand their experience and professional development. He explains, "We certainly don't underestimate the challenges for civilian staff in a military operational environment but the professional experience afforded personnel in field hospitals is second to none."

Whilst the initiative may well help address the current shortfall of military doctors, estimated last month by the BMA to be at around 580, the key objective of recruiting through Frontier Medical is to attract highly qualified professionals with key skills and expertise that will enhance the overall quality of medical support in operational theatres. The recruitment schedule includes consultants in General Medicine, Anaesthetics, Burns & Plastic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery, Neuro Surgery Emergency Care and Radiology as well as General Practitioners, Pharmacy Technicians and Radiographers.

With more than 20 years experience working in the field of remote medicine providing medical services and support for both commercial and humanitarian organisations with staff working remote from western-standard medical care, Frontier Medical has been contracted to support the Defence Medical Services Department until 2011, having proven their ability to support the MoD with medical personnel over several years. A key role for the company is ensuring applicants have the skills, experience and medical fitness to perform effectively in a remote medicine environment.