The RAAF’s new Air Transportable Hospital set up for business at RAAF Richmond. Photo by Cpl Andy Hall, 86WG

By Ben Caddaye
INSTANT hospital – just add air.

Well, it’s not quite instant but a basic version of Air Force’s new Air Transportable Hospital (ATH), comprising a series of inflatable, interconnected dome-shaped tents, can be built in just 30 minutes.

The ATH can provide emergency medical support within four hours, limited medical facilities within 24 hours and, in the space of seven days, evolves into a fully operational hospital accommodating 28 beds with an operating theatre and intensive care unit.

The ATH, operated by No. 3 Combat Support Hospital at RAAF Base Richmond, was put on display along with its equipment at the base on September 4.

A Level 3 medical facility, the ATH will provide the ADF with a readily available, highly mobile and rapidly deployable health facility.

Inflated by either foot or electronically operated pumps, the facility, when fully established, covers an area of about 100 sqm.

It is capable of supporting 26 in-patients, including two high-dependency patients, and the preparation of a further 18 patients for Aero Medical Evacuation.

The facility is also equipped to send its surgical capability into the battle zone via its Fly Away Surgical Team.

To transport the entire ATH requires the equivalent of 24 C-130 Hercules flights.

An efficient reverse-cycle air-conditioning system cools the tents to 22-24 degrees in treatment areas and 18-20 degrees in the operating theatre and high dependency areas.

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