40 Commando Medical Centre

Marines get new 'green' medical centre

The previous page was: "40 Cdo Sangin"

40 Commando Medical Centre: Royal Marines proudly opened their new £3.5m medical centre this week, with a design and construction incorporating many low-carbon environmental measures. The physiotherapy room within the new medical centre at Norton Manor Camp near Taunton in Somerset. The centre, which was completed six months ahead of schedule and within budget, is located on-site at Norton Manor Camp.

The project, funded by the Royal Navy, was completed by Debut Services Ltd under the Defence Estates regional prime contract for the South West.

The centre and facilities mark a significant milestone in overhauling medical provision for the Royal Marines. The modestly-sized centre has enabled the medical and dental teams, which were previously in makeshift and disparate locations around the base, to be co-located in one purpose-built facility in an optimum position.

40 Cdo Sangin

The Green Medical Centre

Since the Royal Marines are part of the larger Naval Service it is common to find personnel from the Royal Navy attached to them. An excellent example of this is in the medical and dental areas.

A large proportion of the team manning the new medical centre are Service personnel from the Royal Navy. Within the team there are two doctors, 14 medical and nursing staff, a physiotherapist, a dentist and a dental hygienist.

The new energy-efficient facility will provide essential services including a medical casualty bay, treatment rooms, consulting rooms and dispensary.

One of the treatment rooms within the new medical centre It also has a vital rehabilitation suite on the ground floor for the treatment and subsequent rehabilitation of Royal Marines. On the first floor there is a twin, fully-equipped dental surgery and dental laboratory.

High U-value for the centre

The building has been designed with several low-carbon measures. Ground source heat pumps provide a free and continuous source of heating.

The efficiency of thermal insulation is determined by an industrial 'U-value'. The U-value for the centre is above that required by building regulations. This improved value means lower heat loss through the fabric of the building. Consequently, this reduces the need for higher heating temperatures.

The building is orientated to maximise effectiveness of its solar panels. They are on the roof at the rear and over the entire length of the centre. These 'green' features collectively contribute to the efficient running of the centre which in turn benefits the occupants and patients.

Admirably, the building has been rated as 'excellent' and awarded 75 per cent in the Defence Related Environmental Assessment Methodology, known as 'DREAM'. These measures will contribute to the MOD target to reduce Defence estate carbon emissions by 30 per cent by 2020.

The Director of the Royal Navy Medical Services, Surgeon Commodore Noel Bevan, who opened the facility, said:

"This is a first-class facility which makes a vital enhancement to the medical and dental services for the Royal Marines. It also adds to the already high level of support we provide to those who sustain injury on operations."

On the design and layout of the new medical centre, the unit's Principal Medical Officer, Surgeon Lieutenant Iain Wood of the Royal Navy, said:

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A 21st Century facility for the

Modern-day Commando

"It's clean and hygienic - befitting of a Commando Unit in the 21st century."

The Dental Officer, Surgeon Lieutenant Commander Thomas Pepper of the Royal Navy, talking about the service his department can now provide patients with, said:

"The centre has been designed in collaboration with a dentist which means that it has been designed with the patient's needs in mind; thereby enabling form and function to work together to benefit the patient and enhance the service we can provide them."

40 COMMANDO MEMORIAL

AND GARDEN OF REMEMBRANCE

The plan is for a granite memorial to be erected at the North edge of the small lake (outside the Main Galley) within Norton Manor Camp (NMC) to act as the centre-piece for the 40 Cdo RM Garden of Remembrance.

The granite memorial is unique to 40 Cdo RM and is being resourced from a local Taunton-based Company. The memorial will sit at the head of the lake and will represent a memorial to those that have passed away whilst serving with 40 Cdo RM - past, present and future.

A wicker fence marks the border of the Garden of Remembrance (currently a small area to the North of the lake) and a number of herbaceous border plants have or will be planted inside the fenced area.

The area within the garden already contains a number of slow-growing trees planted by a number of families of deceased ranks in their memory and the intent is to have a path leading from the garden entry points to the memorial and then down to the water's-edge, where there are two benches established to allow people to sit and reflect.

The intent for Phase 1 is to have the memorial designed and erected at the North of the lake, and have the pathway built leading up to the memorial and down to the water's-edge and to have the wicker fencing spread around the whole lake to expand the garden for Phase 2.

Proceeds Received

The cost of the memorial is approx £14k, of which 50% (£7k) has been raised by a mixture of welfare funding, private donations, Mess donations and PRI funding.

A Charity Ball is being run by Nigel and Sarah Hill at Somerset Cricket Club on 25 Sep 10 in order to try and raise the remainder of the cash for the Memorial (a nice local link to the memorial), which I will attend and brief the guests what their money will be going towards.

The plan is to unveil the Memorial in a Unit event, with local VIP attendance, on Nov 10th, on the Units return from Op HERRICK 12.

Phase 2 sees the improvement to the Garden of Remembrance, with more herbaceous plants being established inside the wicker fence. The intention is to cut a walk-way alongside the lake and provide a pathway that allows wheel-chair access to the garden and to establish further areas for visitors to rest and relax in peace and quite.

Any proceeds received for the 40 Cdo Memorial and Garden of Remembrance will go towards: 1. The cost of the design and erecting of the Memorial. 2. The upkeep of the Memorial itself. 3. Enhancement and upkeep of areas of the Garden of Remembrance, e.g. purchasing of further benches.

We have set up an account in the Central Bank to receive and manage any funds that are allocated to the Memorial and Garden of Remembrance. Cheques should be made payable to “Central Bank 40 Commando” with “40 Commando Memorial” written on the back of the cheque.

The next Link below will be: "40 Commando Sibu"

40 Commando Medical Centre 40 Commando Sibu

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