Falkland Islands Government

HOME PAGE

Falkland Focus
News from the Falkland Islands Government
Number: 69 - April/May 2000

A VIEW FROM STANLEY

PAGE 1
Moving Forward, The Joint Statement - Conservation & Fishing Issues - Flights from South America - Entry of Argentine Citizens into the Falkland Islands - Tough Line Taken Against Poachers in Falkland Waters

PAGE 2
MPs Visit the Islands - Education Watch: GCSE Success - Success For Peter Symonds' College, Winchester - The Search for Oil - Royal Visit - The New Chief Executive - Falklands First Solicitor

PAGE 3
Focus on Health & Social Services - Visit by UK Defence Secretary - New Commander of British Forces - Laying Up Of Colours - The Queen Opens Falklands Memorial Chapel - Organically Produced - Destinations 2000 - Diary Dates

Focus on ... Health & Social Services in the Falkland Islands

The Falkland Islands has a comprehensive Health Service that rivals the most developed nations. This is wholly funded by the Falkland Islands Government and caters for the Islands population of 2,200 as well as the 2,000 military personnel and support staff based at Mount Pleasant. The hospital is also available to treat tourists - the Islands receive over 30,000 cruise ship visitors a year - and seamen from vessels licensed to fish in the Islands waters.

King Edward VII Memorial Hospital

The modern, bright and cheerful King Edward VII Memorial Hospital (KEMH) has 32 beds, including two intensive treatment beds and two delivery rooms, x-ray, outpatients, casualty, pathology and an ambulance service.

The medical department provides a full range of health services, including a general practitioner service and a flying doctor service for farm settlements. Dental care is provided by two civilian dentists, whose time is divided between Stanley and Camp (the local term for the countryside). A dental surgery opened last year at Fox Bay to provide a local service on West Falkland. The Royal Air Force provides an aeromedical service for patients requiring treatment outside the Islands.

New Links with UK NHS Trusts

The KEMH will be formally demilitarised from 1 July 2000 and is now forging links with UK hospitals to provide services previously undertaken by the military.

Leeds General Infirmary

Leeds General Infirmary has won the contract to service and repair medical equipment. It will provide a 24-hour advice service to the Islands, repair equipment flown back on the twice-weekly flights between Britain and the Islands and two technicians will visit annually.
Southampton General Hospital

Southampton General Hospital will be providing radiography and pathology support. Staff from Southampton will leave for the Islands in July and stay for several months, before being replaced by a new team.

Nick Eastcott, business manager for Southampton's radiology service, said: "It is a great partnership and we have plenty of volunteers already who are eager to go to the Falkland Islands."

NHS Consultants

Mr Paul Vinall, Consultant Obstetrician & Gynaecologist at Leeds General Infirmary, is one of a number of NHS consultants who visit the Islands each year to provide more specialised services.

Since 1994, Mr Vinall has visited the Islands 13 times both on planned annual visits and on other occasions at short notice for emergency cases. "The medical facilities are extraordinarily good," said Mr Vinall, "and more importantly are served by excellent, highly trained general practitioners and a core of midwifery and nursing staff who are as good, if not better, than any I have met anywhere."

Derek Muhl, Director of Health Services

Two years ago Derek Muhl was Director of Operations for North-East Lincolnshire Trust, a post he held for almost ten years, when he saw the advertisement to work in the Falkland Islands. Before this, he had worked at other NHS hospitals in the Midlands and North England for over thirty years. "I had no idea, before leaving the UK, of the diverse and interesting work that I would be doing now. We provide an excellent range of health services over an extremely large area, in fact the logistical coordination of the services is probably one of the biggest challenges. It is an all-consuming job and I am part of a professional and dedicated team committed to providing the very best in care."

NEWS IN BRIEF

Visit by UK Defence Secretary

Geoffrey Hoon, the UK Defence Secretary, visited the Falkland Islands from 6 to 8 March. As well as visiting Mount Pleasant, Mr Hoon laid wreaths at memorials from the 1982 War, met Councillors and was entertained to dinner at Government House by HE The Governor.

Falklands Welcome A New Commander of British Forces

Brigadier Geoff Sheldon arrived in the Islands in mid-January to take up his posting. At a press conference, in response to a question on the Government Defence Review, he reiterated the commitment of Britain to the defence of the Islands, saying that there had only been 'minor adjustments' to the Garrison. He praised the Falkland Islands Defence Force saying: "They take a very valuable part in our exercises which are tuned to meet operational needs in deterrence and defence of the Islands."

Laying Up Of Colours

Forty members of the Parachute Regiment, including twenty five veterans of the 1982 War, visited the Islands from 10 to 15 March. On Sunday 12 March, in a moving ceremony, the Colours of 2 Para were laid up in Christ Church Cathedral. During their time in the Islands the group revisited the battle sights and met many Islanders. A public reception was held in their honour in Stanley.

The Queen Opens Falklands Memorial Chapel

HM The Queen formally opened the Falklands Memorial Chapel, a memorial to the dead of the 1982 War, at the Royal Nautical College in Pangbourne, Berkshire on 9 March. Sukey Cameron, the Falkland Islands UK Representative, attended the opening on behalf of the Falkland Islands Government. The Falkland Islands Government contributed towards the cost of the Memorial Window in the Chapel.

Organically Produced

Ian Cox, the Falkland Islands Development Corporation (FIDC) UK Representative, attended The Organic Produce Market in Europe Conference in London in December. Ian reported that buyers were very interested in the organic produce that the Islands are developing including meat, fish, wool and possible root crops. The Islands Department of Agriculture is developing an organic accreditation system and encouraging farmers to apply for organic status.

Destinations 2000

The Falkland Islands Tourist Board was flying the flag at 'Destinations' travel exhibition in London, from 10 to 13 February. Over the four-day show, the Falklands stand, decorated with eye-catching photographs of Falklands wildlife and landscape, attracted over 2000 people. Ian Cox, FIDC, said: "We received a tremendous reaction from visitors, many intrigued about the Islands in general. We also met many people who had visited the Islands for a day on a cruise ship and who had been so struck with the Islands that they had sought us out to arrange a proper visit."

Diary Dates ...

Falkland Islands Photographic Exhibition

On show at Discovery Point, The Dundee Heritage Trust, Dundee, 20 April - 2 June (The exhibition was also shown at the National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, 7 - 23 March and Gosport Library 30 March - 13 April.)

County Shows

Visit the Falkland Islands stand at:

The Royal Highland Show, Edinburgh, 22 - 25 June
The Royal Show, Stoneleigh, Warwickshire, 3 - 6 July

South West Atlantic Marine Environmental Conference, London, 7 - 8 June

A two day conference to publicise environmental research on and around the Falkland Islands. It is relevant to those with responsibility for environmental governance in other sensitive areas worldwide and those with an interest in the environment of the South West Atlantic. The Conference website is www.tursio.com/SWAENV2_2.htm and the booking office is Falklands Conservation, 1 Princes Avenue, London, N3 2DA T: 020 8343 0831.

Overseas Territories Day at Foreign and Commonwealth Office, 11 July

As part of the London 'String of Pearls Millennium Festival' the Foreign and Commonwealth Office will host an open day on Overseas Territories on Tuesday 11 July. For further information please see the FCO website at www.fco.gov.uk

Falkland Islands Forum

A one-day conference to review developments and the prospects for business in the Falkland Islands will take place in London on 12 July. If you would like more information, please contact Sukey Cameron, at the Falkland Islands Government Office in London.

For further information on any aspect of the Falkland Islands please contact:
Falkland Islands Government Office, Falkland House, 14 Broadway, London SW1H 0BH Tel: 020 7222 2542 Fax: 020 7222 2375 E-mail: rep@falklands.gov.fk