Countess visit for nursing corps.

Byline: Alison Dayani

THE Countess of Wessex, paid a visit to medical military staff in Birmingham to get find out about their work for both the NHS and treating soldiers in the battlefields of Afghanistan.

As Colonel-in-Chief of

Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps, she also showed a keen interest in the activities of the nursing staff working at the Royal College of Defence Medicine (RCDM), in Selly Oak, and nearby Selly Oak and Queen Elizabeth hospitals.

Nurses explained their work at home and while serving in Iraq and Afghanistan, before the countess met injured soldiers recovering on the wards.

She was briefed by RCDM commandant Brigadier Chris Parker, who explained the process by which injured personnel are brought to

Birmingham using both military and NHS transport.

Brig Parker also explained how the NHS and RCDM personnel worked together, using a wide range of specialist skills, to treat the most serious injuries including severe burns from bomb blasts..

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Honoured guest: The Countess of Wessex is introduced to RCDM personnel during her visit to Selly Oak Hospital.