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Army Medical Services (RAMC)

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Army Medical Services (AMS) is made up of the four medically orientated Corps of the British Army. AMS has responsibility for promoting the medical, dental and veterinary health services within the Army and to provide the policy for medical training, doctrine and force development. Army Medical Services comprises the following:

Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) Although medical officers were appointed to Regiments when the Standing Regular Army was formed in 1660, it was not until 1855 that a Medical Staff Corps was formed. The Royal Army Medical Corps as it is known today was established by Royal Warrant in 1898. Members of The Royal Army Medical Corps will be found attached to most major units and are present wherever the Army is involved from war to peacekeeping and humanitarian missions.

RAMC

Royal Army Dental Corps (RADC) Although Army surgeons provided dental care to soldiers since the 17th century, the Dental Service Branch was not established until 1901 as part of the Royal Army Medical Corps. They became the Army Dental Corps in 1921 and were re-named the Royal Army Dental Corps in 1946 in recognition of their effort in World War 2. They are also soldiers and serve within field hospitals on military operations.

RADC

Royal Army Veterinary Corps (RAVC) The RAVC has it’s origins in 1796 when the Army Veterinary Service was formed to look after the horses of the British Army. While there is less need for horses in modern times, except for ceremonial occasions, the Army still uses dogs for a number of different roles around the world. The RAVC promotes good husbandry, preventative medicine and care of service animals.

RAVC

Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps (QARANC) Formed as the Army Nursing Service in 1854 The Queen Alexandra’s’ Royal Army Nursing Corps gained its status in 1949. The nurses serve all round the world and provide medical care to military patients, including Britain’s allies as well as prisoners of war and civilians. Nowadays members of the QARANC serve in civilian hospitals alongside NHS staff and in Ministry of Defence Hospital Units. QA’s work in Tri-Service field hospitals with the Royal Army Medical Corps and Royal Navy and Royal Air Force medical personnel. Members of the QARANC are currently working in the Field Hospitals in Iraq and Afghanistan and the newly created Close Support Hospital and Small Hospital Unit. Such deployments see members of The Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps near what was previously known as the Front Line providing vital life saving nursing support.