Offshore Medical Care

Abstract

In the mid 1960s, when oil and gas exploration commenced offshore on the United Kingdom Continental Shelf, little was known of the medical support needed for this type of operation. In some isolated parts of the world, the larger oil companies had developed sophisticated hospital services to which casualties from their field operations were evacuated. In United Kingdom waters, medical assistance was based onshore and was mobilised on a Hmited basis when requested; support was provided if necessary from existing hospital specialists. In the Armed Forces a wealth of experience had been obtained from operations in isolated situations, where the role of the paramedic had been developed, and it rapidly became apparent that a type of paramedic was required offshore. It was natural that in those early days one looked to those leaving the Armed Forces for suitable candidates, but demand has far outstripped supply from this source in recent years.