MERSEYSIDE medics serving in Afghanistan are getting to grips with their roles at the world’s busiest trauma hospital in Camp Bastion.

Men and women from across the health professions have left behind friends and family to treat injured soldiers and Afghan civilians as part of the 208 Field Hospital (Volunteers) at Camp Bastion in Helmand.

Captain Celia Hill usually works as a paediatric nurse based in Warrington Hospital’s accident and emergency department.

The 54-year-old will become a grandmother for the second time during her three month deployment to the war zone.

She said: “This is my third tour of Afghanistan in four years. Normally the Army wouldn’t ask us to deploy more than once every three years, but I feel very strongly that my sacrifice is small in comparison to that made by our soldiers who fight on the front-line.

“Our soldiers and the innocent Afghan civilians we treat deserve the best and I would recommend the experience to any registered nurse or healthcare assistant.”

Corporal John Pollard, 49, is a paramedic with the North West Ambulance Service based in Anfield. The married father-of-three will be working as a member of a trauma team in the emergency department.

He said: “This is my first deployment to Afghanistan and it will be different from my normal NHS ambulance role, but the Army has been preparing me for almost 18 months with extensive clinical training and extension of my skills and so I feel well prepared for the job.”

Grandmother Sergeant Liz Ferguson, 44, works as a pharmacy technician at Whiston Hospital and she will be performing the same role in Afghanistan.

She said: “This is my third operational tour, I can’t fight on the front line, but everybody has their part to play, and I just want to do my bit.”