Health screens a must

By Andrew Stackpool

Air Force and Indonesian Armed Forces personnel unload humanitarian aid from a C-130 aircraft at Banda Aceh airport during Operation Sumatra Assist.

Photo by MAJ Grant King

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* The RTA health requirements were expanded in February this year to include a disease and occupational exposure History for all personnel deployed to a ground environment on Operation Sumatra Assist. The completion of this history and recording in medical documentation may not have occurred for all members on Operation Sumatra Assist Phase 1 and should be confirmed (or completed) at their three-month medical screen. The Return to Australia (RTA) health requirements include the following: RTAPS – performed before RTA where possible or immediately on return. Post-Deployment Health Brief – performed before RTA where possible. Post-Deployment Medical Screen – performed as soon as possible on RTA which includes: - commencement of eradication medication. - advice as to ceasing malarial medication. - completion of a disease and occupational exposure history (for those returning to Australia after February). - other specific tests identified as necessary; The further post-deployment medical screen – performed three months after RTA, includes: Annual health assessment. Confirmation that a disease and occupational exposure history occurred or completion for those that are deficient. Post-deployment blood screening as required. Post-operational psychological screens performed three to six months after RTA.

PERSONNEL who deployed on Operation Sumatra Assist have been reminded they must undergo their post deployment medical and post operations psychology screenings.

Post-deployment screens should occur in two stages, immediately on Return to Australia (RTA) or before if possible. Three months after RTA, further screens are also required.

The Director of Operational Support from Headquarters Air Command (HQAC), Group Captain Rob Shortridge, said where possible individual member’s RTA requirements for operations should be completed before the member’s actual return to Australian soil.

“For a number or reasons, the health component of Operation Sumatra Assist RTA requirements could not be fully accommodated in theatre,” he said.

“During Phase 1, a compromise was arranged, whereby members were required to transit through Butterworth prior to returning to Australia.

“During this stay, members received the RTA Psychology Screening (RTAPS) and a Post-Deployment Health Brief. The latter also directed members to present to their respective local health facilities as soon as possible after they arrived in Australia to complete the remainder of the RTA health requirements.

“The requirement to complete these as soon as possible was reiterated in each member’s cease attachment from HQAC, where it was also noted that respective commanders are responsible for ensuring these were completed.”

He said that the same principle for RTA health screening was applied during Operation Sumatra Assist Phase 2.

Members who returned to Australia through Jakarta or Butterworth received post-deployment medical briefs, which included the directive that further RTA health requirements, including RTAPS, were to be completed as soon as possible after the member arrived back in Australia.

“We were relying on individuals to present to medical on their return,” he said.

“COs were informed on the cease attachment message that further action was required but I am not all that sure that COs would have personally seen the messages. A message was also sent to COs telling them of the requirements, but again, I am not sure that this would have captured everyone.

“I am concerned that if people are left to their own devices they will either forget or not bother ... they could think ‘I am at home, I feel good, so why worry and I have plenty of other things on my plate...’.”

Group Captain Shortridge said it was important to ensure “our people” received the appropriate and necessary support.

“We also want to know if people have slipped through the cracks so we can improve the RTA screening process and now is the right time to remind individuals and commanders that the three-month post-operational psychological and medical screens are due,” he said.

In a recent CAF update, then-acting CAF Air Vice Marshal Roxley McLennan reminded personnel who deployed that as it was almost three months since the operation ended, they were responsible for ensuring these procedures were completed to finalise their deployment.

Air Vice-Marshal McLennan referred personnel to the People Central website and directed them to comply with CAF Directive 10/04, covering implementation of the ADF Mental Health Strategy and Suicide Prevention Program.

 

 

 

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