Primary Casualty Reception Ship: the hospital within--Operation Granby

As the build-up of Operation Granby forces developed in the Gulf, casualty estimates indicated the need for a 100-bed hospital facility to care for the possible maritime casualties. RFA Argus, the Air Training Ship, was identified as the potential Primary Casualty Reception Ship (PCRS) and at the end of September 1990 plans were drawn up to convert the forward hangar into a two-storey 100-bed hospital in collective protection (COLPRO). In the three weeks prior to deployment, the hospital was designed, built, equipped and staffed. Argus arrived in the Gulf in mid-November as the PCRS with, all in COLPRO, a 10-bed intensive care unit (ICU), a 14-bed high dependency unit (HDU), a 76-bed low dependency unit (LDU) plus four operating tables in two theatres with full support services. The hospital was staffed by a medical team of 136 personnel and supported by the Air department with four casualty evacuation helicopters, an RN Party and the staff of the RFA. One hundred and five patients were treated of which 78 were returned to duty. Argu as PCRS spent longer in the northern Persian Gulf than any other ship, UK or US.