Marines get 'green' medical centre

The centre, which was completed six months ahead of schedule and within budget, is located on-site at Norton Manor Camp near Taunton in Somerset.

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.

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.

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.

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:

"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."

See more stories about improving medical facilities for Armed Forces personnel under Related News >>>