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Headquarters Middle East has reopened a state-of-the-art medical facility at Camp Baird, Al Minhad Air Base in the United Arab Emirates.
The facility was officially reopened just before the transfer of authority between Royal Australian Navy Captain Brett Westcott and Royal Australian Air Force Group Captain Garth Herriot.
The refurbished building was the primary medical centre during the height of operational deployments in the Middle East before being scaled down as part of the regional drawdown.
Squadron Leader Tara Kinnane, Headquarters Middle East’s (HQME) doctor who has deployed to Al Minhad Air Base on multiple rotations, said the new facility significantly enhanced medical capability for the Australian Defence Force and partner nations, particularly in support of contingency operations.
“The expanded medical facility enables us to deliver comprehensive primary care to the personnel based at or moving through Camp Baird on their way to forward locations, including supported operations or activities in the Middle East,” she said.
“The reopened centre now provides dedicated space not only for doctors and nurses but also for psychologists, padres and additional health staff, as required.
“Previously, our capacity at HQME was restricted by the small, shared space that accommodated ADF, UK and NZDF [New Zealand Defence Force] medical teams. The newly refurbished facility allows us to fully support current and future operational requirements.”
The centre was officially reopened by Deputy Chief of Joint Operations Major General Hugh McAslan.
Squadron Leader Trent Blinco, the contingent’s chief engineering officer, said it was important not only to revive the old facility but to ensure it met modern standards of safety and functionality.
“Successive medical rotations looked forward to the day they could move back into their house, into a new and modern medical centre,” he said.
“The tremendous effort by our engineering team and the Serco management team culminated in a solution that transformed a neglected building into a fully functional medical facility.”
