Army Medical Services

The Army Medical Services (AMS)is the organisation responsible for administering the four separate units responsible for supplying medical and nursing services in the British Army. These are:

Cap Badges of the four medical/nursing corps

*Royal Army Medical Corps
*Royal Army Dental Corps
*Queen Alexandra's Royal Army Nursing Corps
*Royal Army Veterinary Corps

Administration

The Army Medical Services are administered by the Headquarters of the Army Medical Directorate at Surrey under the command of the Director General Army Medical Services (DGAMS) who, in return, reports to the army's Adjutant General.

Role of the DGAMS

The DGAMS role is to promote effective medical, dental and veterinary health services for the Army and provide a policy focus for individual medical training, doctrine and force development.

DGAMS Mission Statement To Ensure that the Land Component Health and Veterinary Services Provided for Defence Capability are Fully Effective

Role of the AMS

The role of the AMS is to contribute to the conservation of fighting strength and morale of the Army. The AMS is responsible for advising commanders on the maintenance of health and prevention of disease in the Army in peace and, in addition, the collection, medical classification , evacuation and treatment of the sick and wounded in war.

Secondary health care, dental treatment, medical training, and the supply of medical and dental equipment and pharmaceuticals are provided on a tri-service basis by Defence Agencies in which members of the AMS are employed. The Commander Medical at Land Command controls the medical units of the Field Army and primary health care.