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The military has stepped up its work in Scotland as part of the ongoing UK Government response to coronavirus.

From Friday (March 27), three RAF Puma helicopters will be stationed at Kinloss Barracks in Moray. The Pumas will work closely with a Chinook and a Wildcat helicopter based at RAF Leeming, North Yorkshire, to meet any requests for assistance from NHS Boards and trusts across Scotland and Northern England.

A second helicopter facility will cover the Midlands and Southern England working out of The Aviation Task Force Headquarters at RAF Benson in Oxfordshire. Chinook and Wildcat helicopters normally based at RAF Odiham and RNAS Yeovilton respectively will support the Southern areas.

The helicopter facilities have been set up to support medical transport across Scotland and the rest of the UK. The new task force will also be available for general support such as moving equipment and personnel across the wider UK.

The aviation support is in addition to a team of Army medical, logistics, supply and humanitarian relief planners who joined the Scottish Government’s Emergency Co-ordination Centre team in Edinburgh last week. 

The team of military planners and liaison officers are now co-locating at St Andrew’s House in Edinburgh. A wider team of military liaison personnel is being made available to every health board in Scotland.

NHS Western Isles welcomed two officers yesterday, who will be assisting NHS Western Isles – reporting directly to Chief Executive, Gordon Jamieson – with vital planning and resilience.

Defence Secretary Ben Wallace said: “The creation of these helicopter hubs is the next step in our Armed Forces’ contribution to tackling the coronavirus outbreak whenever it appears throughout the United Kingdom. Our aircraft are ready to support emergency services and local communities wherever needed across the highlands and islands of Scotland – the Armed Forces have always got your back.

“In addition, our superb military planners and logisticians are engaging with the governments and health services of Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to support their efforts in responding to the virus."