News
The Duchess of Cornwall, Commodore-in-Chief, visits the Institute of Naval Medicine in Gosport, Hampshire
14th September 2007
The Duchess of Cornwall paid a visit to the Institute of Naval Medicine in Gosport, Hampshire as Commodore-in-Chief of Royal Naval Medical Services today.
Her Royal Highness met a team of submariners practising their rescue techniques at the bottom of a 30ft tank and toured the facility.
The Duchess of Cornwall is Royal Colonel of the 4th Battalion The Rifles and Commodore-in-Chief of Naval Medical Services, Royal Navy. Click here to find out more.
The Duchess accompanies The Prince on the majority of his engagements with the Armed Services and has met a wide variety of current and former military personnel in the UK and overseas.
All submariners undergo training on how to escape if their submarine should suffer a problem and settle to the bottom of the sea. Escape is possible from depth down to 180 metres and training takes a week.
The Institute of Naval Medicine has developed over the last 50 years to be an internationally recognised centre of excellence for occupational health advice, information, training and research.
Most work is carried out in support of the Royal Marines and Submarine Service but the centre also works on behalf of the Royal Navy, RAF, Army, other authorities and commercial organisations.
The Duchess met staff and learnt about the work of all the different departments. She was also given a tour of the Environmental Medical Unit (EMU), meeting two Army patients being treated in specialist clinics which deal with cold and heat injuries.
The Duchess watched Petty Officer Steve Reeves in a bright orange pressurised escape suit make a rapid ascent from the bottom of the Submarine Escape Training Tank (SETT) at Fort Blockhouse.
Her Royal Highness joked with the team: "That was fascinating. I wouldn't mind a swim round the top, that would be pleasant, but I don't think I will be volunteering myself.
"At least it's nice and warm. Have a nice swim around the top there!"
The Duchess, wearing a nautical navy blue and white dress with pearls, was told the escape suit that every submariner learns to use takes one minute to ascend from a depth of 180 metres and includes a built-in life jacket and one-man life raft.
Her Royal Highness was also shown the effect of water pressure on lungs using an inflated bag.
She held on to the side as she peered down into the 30-metre deep pool to watch the submariners, who volunteer as instructors at the Institute of Naval Medicine and form a rescue team.
The EMU advises frontline military commanders on occupational medicine and health.
The centre is unique in Europe as it combines specialist clinicians, physiologists, ergonomists and occupational psychologists with a range of facilities including environmental exposure chambers, a cold water immersion pool and specialist laboratories.
They work on a range of health and safety issues such as sea survival, cold injuries, survival equipment, survival chances, the problems with heat and exercise and occupational stress.
Click here to read more about The Duchess of Cornwall's work with the Armed Services.