Belize Hospital
History and information about the British Army Hospital in Belize
The British Army Belize Hospital was in operation when there was a strong British Forces presence in Belize, Central America, that patrolled the border with Honduras and Guatemala. British soldiers were posted to deter incursions by Guatemala who still considered the region their domain despite Belize being a former British colony (British Honduras) until independence in 1981. Guatemala did not recognise the nation of Belize until 1992. The large presence of the British Forces withdrew and was handed to the Belize Defence Force (BDF) as peace reigned. A British training base remains in place, primarily to train soldiers in jungle warfare and craft skills.
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Airport Camp
The Belize hospital for soldiers was located in Airport Camp near the entrance to the right. It was known as the Station Hospital Belize and the Force Hospital Belize. The Belize Hospital was a two ward hospital with an operating room, laboratory and pharmacy. The Belize Hospital at Airport Camp also provided primary health care for the soldiers and physiotherapy. At times it treated local Belizeans and tourists. The Field Surgical Team (FST) went to local hospitals where the surgeon and anaesthetist would provide minor operations and treatment. QAs and RAMC personnel were treated by the High Commissioner to the use of his swimming pool, BBQ and tennis courts on the trip back.
The book Sub Cruce Candida: A Celebration of One Hundred Years of Army Nursing
has a photo of the British forces Belize Hospital.
Andy McNab talks about his time at Airport Camp Belize and patrolling the Guatemala border in Seven Troop
British Army Training Support Unit Belize
In modern days QAs serve at the British Army Training Support Unit Belize (BATSUB) which was set up at Price Barracks in October 1994. Here they care for permanent military staff and those on exercise, families and UK employed civilian staff such as those working at the NAAFI. They still maintain a time honoured tradition of providing soldiers with Genitourinary Medical care. One important aspect of the work of the GU nurse is contact tracing of GU presentations. This can be difficult in Belize since evidence can be anecdotal. Soldiers often present the following morning with well-established disease. Soldiers regularly contract disease from sexual contact with back packers and tourists in Caye Caulker, San Pedro and Cancun and after visits to the Raoul Rose Garden in Belize.
Forward Aero Medical Evacuation
The Medical Centre and the Army Air Corps (AAC) provide rapid response with the Forward Aero Medical Evacuation (FAME) team.
QARANC.co.uk would love to expand this page with more details about this former army hospital and include a photograph. If you are a former or serving member of the Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps we would love your help.
If you would like to contribute any info, photographs or share your memories of Belize Hospital then please contact me.
On the 26 February 2008 BBC 2 Masterchef went to Belize where three chefs contestants cooked a hot fresh meal in the jungle for the troops.
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