British Military Extends Snow Assistance In Scotland

Picture: 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland helping transport NHS staff (Credit: MoD)

The British military has extended its support to emergency services and civil authorities in Scotland in response to continuing snowfall.

NHS services in Fife and Tayside requested assistance to help transport staff to and from hospitals.

This new support will be provided by up to 30 vehicles and 60 personnel drawn from Royal Marine Condor in Arbroath, Scots Dragoon Guards from Leuchars and RAF Lossiemouth in Moray.

Last night soldiers from Edinburgh-based 3 RIFLES and Penicuik’s 2 SCOTS deployed eight vehicles and 20 personnel to transport 200 critical care NHS Lothian staff to and from the Edinburgh Royal Infirmary and Western General.

An MOD spokesperson said:

"The Armed Forces are assisting emergency services in ensuring essential NHS staff are able to get to work and carry out their work in local communities and are standing by to help the police and civil authorities across the UK following heavy snowfall.

"We are also aware of Armed Forces personnel volunteering in their own time with their own vehicles to help those in need."

The Armed Forces in Scotland’s support will mainly cover NHS shift change periods during this time of extreme weather conditions.

Meanwhile, the Defence Secretary has met with soldiers from 1 Royal Irish, who have been carrying out vital work transporting health workers in the Shropshire area, which has been hit by heavy snow.

Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson said:

"Our Armed Forces are doing an incredible job up and down the country, helping the emergency services, local authorities, and the NHS supporting those in need.

"From Scotland to Cornwall, more than 100 personnel from across the forces are making a real difference in getting nurses and doctors to vulnerable and elderly patients, and helping rescue those left stranded in freezing conditions.

"I pay tribute to their professionalism, dedication and sense of duty. They are proving once again that Britain can always depend on our troops to protect us no matter the time, no matter the place, and no matter the problem."