1. LO2 – Maritime Medical Planning Principles
Jez Eden, LtCdr RN
LO2 – Maritime Medical Planning Principles
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SCOPE
Timelines
Roles
Risk Assessment
Questions
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Timelines
70% of battle casualty deaths occur within 5 minutes of wounding
20% are preventable through immediate application of fairly simple measures
But time is critical
10-20% will die within 4 hours without surgery
New medical techniques and procedures have reduced battle casualty deaths by 30%
Time is the most important factor in the provision of treatment. Shown on the slide are just some of the results gained from many years of operational analysis.
The last point shown is key. The life saving techniques and equipment now available are significantly better than they were just a generation ago.
To be effective, however, they need to be applied as soon as possible and timeliness of treatment is arguably more important now than it has ever been.
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Clinical Timelines
1-2-4 Hour Principle: [JDP 4-03 Med Sp to Ops]
Within 1 hrs = resuscitation and stabilizing treatment
Within 2 hrs = Damage Control Surgery (DCS)
Within 4 hrs = Primary Surgery (PS)
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Timelines
Guidelines: [ACO Dir (AD) 83-1 (Edn 2) dated Oct 10]
Within 10 mins = haemorrhage & airway control
Within 1 hr = MEDEVAC assets reach the casualty
Within 2 hrs = casualties requiring surgery, to be in an operating theatre
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Level
Level 1
Level 2
Level 3
Level 4
Level 5
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Role 1
Maritime Medical planning Guidance:
Nationally Mandated Minimum Medical Requirements (NMMMR):
Primary care, Triage, First Aid, Pre Hospital Emergency Care, Evacuation
Personnel – Personnel qualified to the minimum IMO trg level and dedicated personnel to provide care who are current in advanced first aid or medical trg at an agreed level.
It should be possible to provide limited medical treatment, under the guidance of an authorised healthcare professional
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Level 2
MMPG refers to Level 2 as level 1 but would normally include the addition ships Dr
Provide a greater range of diagnoses, with greater confidence and accuracy as well as treating common medical conditions with an increased range of treatment options
The hull should have an authorised independent health practitioner
Should be able to provide triage in MASCAL situations, along with advanced airway access, access for fluid resuscitation and non surgical haemorrhage control
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Level 3
MMPG refers to level 3 as; As level 2 but with access to specialist doctor led resuscitation and damage control surgery within clinical timelines
Maritime equivalent to Role 2 Light Manoeuvre. It is the lowest level where surgery is provided. The minimum level of surgery provided is damage control surgery.
Personnel – Should include one surgeon, one anaesthesia provider and two operating theatre staff. Additional medical staff to fulfill the nursing, laboratory and imaging capabilities
Evacuation – Provide for in transit care of a ventilated patient.
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Level 4
MMPG refers to level 4 as; As level 3 but with access to primary surgery within clinical timelines. Might include 2 x operating tables (OT), 2 surgical teams (ST), 4 x ITU beds, X Ray, Lab, blood bank
Maritime equivalent to Role 2 Enhanced. Should be able to maintain its capability and remain within a TF in the presence of a flow of casualties
Ability to hold one ventilated patient for up to 48 hrs and able to regenerate surgical capability without compromising the mission
Evacuation – Provide in transit care of a ventilated patient without compromising the capabilities of the MTF
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Level 5
MMPG refers to Level 5 as; As level 4 but with access to specialist surgery within clinical timelines. Mission tailored. May include 4 x OT, 4 x ST
8 x ITU beds, CT scanner, O2 production, PECC dedicated medevac capability. This is the maritime equivalent to Role 3
The hull shall be a designated MTF platform designed to receive and hold casualties without compromising the mission. May be a dedicated hospital ship
Sustainability – Ability to hold patients for days or until evacuation to the APOD can be achieved.
Designated medevac teams
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Scheme of Manoeuvre
Level 5
Level 2
Level 4
Level 3
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Risk Assessment
Early in the development of any plan medical planners should draw together all relevant information in order to conduct a risk based evaluation of key factors
An initial broad based assessment of the medical capability required within the deploying force needs to be made. This will be fine tuned as the planning process develops
If sufficient medical capability is not available or the medical plan cannot meet doctrinal clinical timelines then this risk must be highlighted to the Operational commander
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Risk Assessment
Early in the development of any plan medical planners should draw together all relevant information in order to conduct a risk based evaluation of key factors
An initial broad based assessment of the medical capability required within the deploying force needs to be made. This will be fine tuned as the planning process develops
If sufficient medical capability is not available or the medical plan cannot meet doctrinal clinical timelines then this risk must be highlighted to the Operational commander
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Risk Assessment
Overall risk score is based on 3 factors:
The operation to be undertaken
The relative size of the formation (PAR)
The region in which it is to operate
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Risk Assessment
Units & Area of Operation
Score
Single Ship – Coastal steaming NATO Area (NATO A)1 1
Single Ship – Out of area sailing or trans continental sailing (OA) 2
Task unit of 2 or more ships – NATO A
Task unit of 2 or more ships - OA
Task Group of 4 ships and at least one major ship (FF, LPD and above) NATO A
Task Group of 4 ships and at least one major ship (FF, LPD and above) OA 3
Task Force – Largest formation. May consist of more than one Task Group NATO A
Task Force – Largest formation. May consist of more than one Task Group OA 4
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17. MARITIME ACTIVITY RISK CATEGORIES
Risk Assessment
MARITIME ACTIVITY RISK CATEGORIES
Routine Operations (Deployments / Transits / Exercises)
Score
Transit Open Waters 1
Amphibious Exercises 2
Neo (permissive environment)
Carrier Strike Exercise
Low Intensity Operations
Boarding - opposed 3
NEO (Non Permissive)
Maritime Interdiction operations
Mine Clearance / EOD
High Intensity Operations (War fighting)
Opposed amphibious landing 4
NEO - Opposed
Convoying
Sea based support of Joint Operations
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18. NATO Maritime Medical Asset Planning Matrix
Risk Assessment
NATO Maritime Medical Asset Planning Matrix
Maritime Activity
Score 4 8 12 16 3 6 9 2 1
Unit Size and AO Score

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Risk Assessment
Score 1 – (Level 1)
Score 2 – 3 – (Level 2)
Score 4-6 – (Level 3)
Score 8-12 – (Level 4)
Score 16 – (Level 5)
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20. Conclusion
The only certain result of your plan will be casualties - mainly the enemy's if it's a good plan, yours if it is not.  Either way, foremost in your supporting plans must be your medical plan.
Brigadier Rupert Smith
Deputy Commandant
Army Staff College 1990