Logan Reid
The Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom previously operated several military hospitals, which were identified by the designation Royal Air Force Hospital Nnnnn, with 'Nnnnn' representing the geographic location name. These hospitals were spread across Great Britain and the world, with five hospitals in Lancashire alone during World War II. However, by the late 1980s, many RAF hospitals had closed, and by 1996, all RAF hospitals in the UK and abroad had shut down, except for the hospital at RAF Akrotiri, which was converted into a joint or tri-service asset. So, as of 1996, the answer to the question 'are there any RAF hospitals still open?' is essentially no, as the remaining hospital at RAF Akrotiri was no longer exclusively operated by the RAF.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of RAF hospitals in the UK and abroad still open as of 1996 | 1 (RAF Akrotiri) |
| Number of RAF hospitals in the UK and abroad as of the second half of the 1980s | 5 (3 in the UK, 2 abroad) |
| Names of RAF hospitals in the UK as of the second half of the 1980s | Ely, Halton, and Wroughton |
| Names of RAF hospitals abroad as of the second half of the 1980s | Akrotiri and Wegberg |
| Year the RAF Hospital Wegberg opened | 1953 |
| Location of the RAF Hospital Wegberg | Wegberg, near the city of Mönchengladbach, in then West Germany |
| Year the RAF Hospital Wegberg closed | 1996 |
| Year all RAF hospitals in the UK and abroad closed except for RAF Akrotiri | 1996 |
| Staffing at RAF hospitals based on | Number of beds and work undertaken at the facility |
| Number of medical officers at Halton and Cranwell | 20 and 12 respectively |
| Number of medical officers at Cosford and St Athan | 8 each |
| Year the original Royal Air Force Officers Hospital opened at Finchley | 1919 |
| Year the hospital moved to Uxbridge | 1925 |
| Year the hospital moved to Torquay | 1940 |
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What You'll Learn
RAF Hospital Wegberg
The former Royal Air Force Hospital Wegberg, abbreviated as RAF(H) Wegberg, was a British military hospital located in Wegberg, near the city of Mönchengladbach, in then-West Germany. It was opened in 1953 to serve the British Armed Forces personnel already in the area, and in anticipation of the construction and opening of the large RAF Rheindahlen base nearby. The hospital was built in a unique manner, with an outer wide U-shaped ring of single-storey buildings, and an inner U-shaped ring of two-storey buildings. The outer ring consisted mostly of wards, outpatients, and clinical areas, while the inner ring contained administrative and support services, including a central kitchen.
The hospital functioned as a general hospital for British military personnel, associated British civilian support staff, and their families, from all services of British Forces Germany (BFG) across a wide area of North Rhine Westphalia, the Netherlands, and Belgium. It served as a higher tier of medical expertise and treatment above the normal station sick quarters. In March 1972, the celebrated Rugby Union player Cliff Morgan suffered a severe stroke in Cologne and was treated at RAF Hospital Wegberg, where he spoke highly of his treatment.
The hospital closed in 1996 after 43 years of service, and the remaining psychiatric unit and community services were transferred to local German hospitals. The whole hospital site was then formally handed back to the German authorities. Despite the closure, a group of former personnel visited the hospital in October 2010 and reported that it was in perfect condition, a testament to the original builders and careful maintenance over 57 years. Unfortunately, in November 2015, the hospital site appeared abandoned and derelict, having suffered damage from vandalism, fires, and theft.
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RAF Hospitals in the UK
During World War II, the Royal Air Force (RAF) had many hospitals within the United Kingdom, along with several RAF hospitals abroad. These hospitals were spread out across Great Britain and at strategic points throughout the world. Lancashire, for instance, had five RAF hospitals (RAF Hospital Cleveleys, RAF Hospital Kirkham, RAF Hospital Morecambe, RAF Hospital Padgate, and RAF Hospital Weeton).
Most RAF stations had a sick bay where minor injuries and infections were treated. More serious injuries were dealt with at civilian hospitals. However, by the second half of the 1980s, significant reductions and closures had occurred, and by 1996, all RAF hospitals in the UK and abroad had closed, except for the hospital at RAF Akrotiri, which had become a joint or tri-service asset. Princess Mary's RAF Hospital Halton, which opened in 1927 as a large purpose-built military hospital, was closed in 1995 due to government defence cuts. The hospital at Wroughton, where an airman was once repatriated and hospitalised, was also demolished several years ago to make way for a housing estate.
The original Royal Air Force Officers Hospital was opened at Finchley in 1919, moved to Uxbridge in 1925, and then to Torquay in 1940. It was bombed in October 1942, resulting in nineteen fatalities. Most RAF hospitals were built in the 1930s or 1940s, coinciding with the RAF Expansion Period and the outbreak of World War II. Many wartime RAF hospitals were only temporary and continued in use until the 1950s, with Croome Park in Worcestershire being the only one remaining in its wartime state.
While there may no longer be any RAF hospitals exclusively serving the RAF, the RAF Cosford does provide support for the whole RAF family, offering confidential assistance for various life challenges, including relationship issues, financial worries, housing troubles, and bereavement support.
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RAF Hospital history
There have been several British military hospitals operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom. They were typically identified by the designation Royal Air Force Hospital Nnnnn (where 'Nnnnn' is the geographic location name), which was usually shortened to RAF Hospital Nnnnn.
The Second World War (WW2) prompted an expansion of RAF hospital facilities and locations, both in the UK and abroad. Most of the hospitals were built in the 1930s or 1940s, to cater either for the RAF Expansion Period or due to the outbreak of the Second World War. However, at the end of WW2, and the withdrawal of the RAF from the Middle and Far East, many RAF hospitals were closed.
Staffing at Royal Air Force hospitals was based on the number of beds and the work undertaken at the facility. Some of the larger bases could have up to 10,000 people to cater for. Halton, Cranwell, Matlock, Ely, and Torquay were considered separate entities from any RAF stations or bases. Halton and Cranwell had twenty and twelve medical officers (MO) respectively, while the large training bases at Cosford and St Athan only had eight each.
The original Royal Air Force Officers Hospital was opened at Finchley in 1919, moved to Uxbridge in 1925, and then to Torquay in 1940. In October 1942, the hospital at Torquay was bombed, resulting in nineteen fatalities. By the second half of the 1980s, significant reductions and closures had occurred, and by 1996, all RAF hospitals in the UK and abroad had closed, except for the hospital at RAF Akrotiri, which had become a joint or tri-service asset.
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RAF Hospital locations
There have been several British military hospitals operated by the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the United Kingdom. These hospitals were spread out across Great Britain and at strategic points worldwide. The hospitals were identified by the designation Royal Air Force Hospital Nnnnn, where 'Nnnnn' is the geographic location name, typically shortened to RAF Hospital Nnnnn.
Lancashire, for instance, had five RAF hospitals within its borders during World War II: RAF Hospital Cleveleys, RAF Hospital Kirkham, RAF Hospital Morecambe, RAF Hospital Padgate, and RAF Hospital Weeton. These hospitals were deemed relatively safe from bombing due to their distance from enemy action.
The Second World War prompted an expansion of RAF hospital facilities and locations in the UK, Western Europe, the Middle East, and East Asia. However, by the second half of the 1980s, significant reductions and closures had occurred, with only five military hospitals remaining: three in the UK (Ely, Halton, and Wroughton) and two abroad (Akrotiri and Wegberg).
The original Royal Air Force Officers Hospital was opened at Finchley in 1919, moving to Uxbridge in 1925, and then to Torquay in 1940. In October 1942, the Torquay hospital was bombed, resulting in nineteen fatalities. Other hospitals included Halton, Cranwell, Matlock, and St Athan.
By 1996, all RAF hospitals in the UK and abroad had closed, except for the hospital at RAF Akrotiri, which became a joint or tri-service asset. RAF Wegberg in Germany also remained partially operational, with a small Mental Health Unit still treating in-patients.
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RAF Hospital staffing
Staffing at Royal Air Force (RAF) hospitals was based on the number of beds and the type of work undertaken at the facility. The larger RAF bases could have up to 10,000 people to cater for. Halton and Cranwell, for example, had twenty and twelve medical officers respectively, while other large training bases like Cosford and St Athan had eight each.
The RAF hospitals were spread across Great Britain and other parts of the world, with a concentration of five hospitals in Lancashire during World War II. By the 1980s, many RAF hospitals had closed, and by 1996, all hospitals in the UK and abroad had shut down, except for the one at RAF Akrotiri, which became a joint or tri-service asset.
The RAF Hospital Wegberg, located near Mönchengladbach in West Germany, served British Armed Forces personnel and their families from 1953 onwards. It had a maternity ward, an intensive care unit, and a special care baby unit. During the 1990 Gulf War, the hospital had to recruit civilian nurses and staff to fill the void left by detached members serving in the Middle East.
The staffing composition at RAF hospitals, on average, comprised 22% officers, 54% other ranks, and 24% civilian employees.
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Frequently asked questions
No, as of 1996, all RAF hospitals in the UK and abroad have been closed.
The hospitals were spread out across Great Britain and at strategic points throughout the world. For example, there were five RAF hospitals in Lancashire: RAF Hospital Cleveleys, RAF Hospital Kirkham, RAF Hospital Morecambe, RAF Hospital Padgate, and RAF Hospital Weeton.
The hospitals were identified by the designation Royal Air Force Hospital Nnnnn, where 'Nnnnn' is the geographic location name. They were staffed by commissioned officer medical professionals of the Royal Air Force Medical Branch and served as a higher tier of medical expertise and treatment above the normal station sick quarters.
Yes, there were several RAF hospitals abroad, including the RAF Hospital Wegberg in West Germany, which opened in 1953 to serve the British Armed Forces personnel and their families.
