Military medics depart RAF Brize Norton to care for earthquake survivors in Turkey

British military medics and NHS nurses from the Tactical Medical Wing at RAF Brize Norton have been deployed to Turkey on board a C-17 Globemaster in support of disaster relief efforts.

Alongside the specialist nurses being deployed, the RAF is transporting a 'role 1' medical treatment facility, which includes a 10-bed ward.

Once in theatre, personnel are trained to be able to start receiving patients after only 24 hours of them landing and setting up equipment.

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Squadron Leader Catherine Pathak is a doctor serving with the Tactical Medical Wing and spoke with Forces News ahead of the humanitarian mission.

The RAF doctor said: "It is a real privilege to be able to go and offer my services to go and help work alongside the civilian and military authorities out there who are doing their best to look after people.

She added: "There are a lot of unknowns, we don't know how long we are going out, but we are prepared to go out to get ready as quickly as we can so that we can start giving assistance to the people who have been affected by this earthquake."

This deployment comes after the UK's Defence Secretary Ben Wallace committed the support following discussions with his Turkish counterpart, Minister Hulusi Akar.