Publish date:
17 August 2026
Northumbria Healthcare staff support thousands during medical mission to Kenya
Four members of staff from Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust have returned from a 16-day deployment to Kenya, where they helped provide vital healthcare and medical training to thousands of people as part of a British Army humanitarian mission.
Lieutenant Colonel Dave Pye, consultant in intensive care medicine and anaesthetics, Lieutenant Colonel Sean Woodcock, consultant general surgeon, Captain Chris Yates, specialty doctor in intensive care medicine and anaesthetics, and Lance Corporal Sam Craven, emergency medicine ST2, travelled to Kenya with the British Army Reserve as part of Exercise Haraka Serpent.
All four colleagues are Army Reservists serving with the 214 Multi-Role Medical Regiment (214 MMR). They joined around 120 medical personnel deployed to Nanyuki, four hours north of Nairobi, to provide healthcare support to local communities and medical training to the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF).
Exercise Haraka Serpent is an annual deployment, with different military medical units taking part each year. This year’s mission saw the team establish temporary healthcare facilities and training areas across six locations in and around Nanyuki.
Working alongside Kenyan non-governmental organisation Beyond Zero, the team provided healthcare to almost 4,000 Kenyan civilians, including to remote populations with limited access to healthcare services.
The deployment delivered a wide range of medical support, with teams diagnosing and helping treat conditions including snake bites, burns, seizures, hypertension, diabetes, skin diseases and dental problems. Specialist staff also provided women’s health services, including pregnancy screening and antenatal check-ups, while paediatric teams cared for children and delivered vaccinations.
Alongside delivering patient care, the team also provided training to members of the Kenya Defence Forces. Sessions ranged from basic first aid to advanced trauma management.
The mission demonstrated how Army Reservists can use their expertise beyond their daily NHS roles, applying clinical skills in challenging environments. It also provided opportunities to share knowledge with Kenyan healthcare professionals and military personnel.
This mission highlights the unique contribution made by Armed Forces Reservists within Northumbria Healthcare, bringing together NHS expertise, military capability and a commitment to improving healthcare outcomes for communities both at home and overseas.
