Fiona Ross making a difference in Helmand Province, Afghanistan

A Saline woman is one of three British army medics in Afghanistan who also teach their skills to local nurses.

The work Lance Corporal Fiona Ross (22) is under-taking along with Captain Robert Garbett from Shrewsbury and Private Megan Paynter from Lowestoft in the Helmand Province will form the basis of a pioneering new ambulance service.

For reservist Fiona this is her second tour of duty in Afghanistan.

She has just helped train five nurses from Lashkar Gah, where the nearest hospital is a 15-minute drive away, after a nine-day course to qualify as “patient transfer specialists.”

The initiative has been organised by Helmand’s directorate of health in conjunction with the UK-led Helmand Provincial Reconstruction Team.

Army Medical Services snowboarding champion Fiona said, “The range of patients we deal with is large.

“We provide care for primary health care patients, the type who would be seen at a GP’s surgery at home.

“We also care for injured Afghan civilians before they are transferred to local hospitals, and then there are the odd cuts and scrapes that happen around the camp.”