Squadron Leader Luke Houghton
Job role: Medical Officer

Joined the RAF: 1995

Overseas travel: The Falklands, Iraq

Career highlights:

• Taking the six-month aviation medicine diploma and being able to put this training into practice at RAF Coningsby – a cutting-edge medical environment because of its association with the Typhoon
• Being made Senior Medical Officer and getting promoted to Squadron Leader on the same day
• Being interviewed for BBC News 24 on Christmas Day 2006 while on deployment in Basra

‘I always wanted to join the RAF – even before I decided to study medicine. I joined the University Air Squadron while I was at Manchester and was sponsored for the last three years of my training.

‘I’m currently based at the Medical Centre at RAF Coningsby, looking after everyone who in some way helps to keep the Typhoons flying. As well as medicals for the aircrew, we have to make sure that all the engineers and personnel staff are fit and healthy.

‘It’s a really different type of work when we’re on operations. I’ve been out to Basra twice. If the Immediate Response Team (IRT) is being called out, it means there’s a potentially serious injury so you have a really strange mixture of emotions when you’re getting on to the helicopter.

‘My son was born in February – three weeks after I got back from Basra. Since his arrival I’ve been a lot better at leaving work on time, but I know it will be really hard when I next go away. I’m pencilled in for a tour to Kandahar in the middle of next year.’

Web Chat session with Squadron Leader Luke Houghton - Wednesday 30 May 2007

All questions were moderated for content and suitability.

Towny'90: It says in your biog you were made Senior Medic Officer then Squad leador on same day? Why was that? And does that happen alot?

Luke Houghton: I had been at the station for 18 months already. And they had been fairly turbulent. So it was thought it would be good for continuity if I carried on. But it doesn't generally happen!

Towny`90: Why did u get interviewed by the BBC at Christmas? Were u selected 4 it? And were u restricted on what u could say?

Luke Houghton: We were asked as the med centre to put people forward to talk to the BBC on Christmas day. And despite encouraging my staff I seemed to be pushed to the front of the queue. i think it was mostly so that they would expect a round of drinks from me.

TOMtranche1: Hi Luke, how does the promotion aspect take place in the RAF, are you promoted from experience, length of duty, or plain qualifications? eg flt.lt. to sqdrn.ldr

Luke Houghton: It would generally be 5 years from the start of Flt Lt to squad leader. As long as you receive a positive promotion reccomendation.From there onwards it is on merit.

Andrea: I will be starting my initial training 25th July then will start to trade as a medical assistant.. are there many opportunities to progress to become a paramedic?

Luke Houghton: At the moment there are lots of opportunities to do further training to become a paradmedic. But you'll need to do some time in the medical assistant trade first. And this will benefit you further down the line.

Robert W: As a medic, did you still have to pass fitness and health tests the same as aircrew?

Luke Houghton: Yes. Everyone in the airforce does the same fitness test according to their age and gender.

Richard: Hi there, as a doctor in the RAF on a daily basis at an RAf station what kind of duties do you do? Are you a normal GP for personell serving on that station? How does it differ from a doctor outside of the forces?

Luke Houghton: Effectively we provide primary care (general practice) for the station population. But we also provide emergency cover for the airfield; occupational health care to the station and we have additional responsibilities handed to us depending on the type of station you are at. We probably tend to do more administrative work (and have more time for this) than in civvy street. Obviously our patient mix is very different with a predominance of young personnel particularly men.

Mel: What attracted you to a career in the RAF? You said that you always wanted to join the RAF, did you consider joining the Navy or the Army?

Luke Houghton: Simple answer - No! I can't really explain why I wanted to join the RAF apart from that I saw it as being the best service. And therefore you tend to want to join the best.

Paul: Hi Luke, How do you find booking leave and planning your life around your service in the airforce?

Luke Houghton: Booking leave is now generally straight forward on the new computer system (should be!) Planning your life round the service is more tricky, and tends to involve trying to look ahead and enter into negotiation with an open mind.

James: Hello, i was just wondering what was it that made you truely want to do your job in RAF, rather than the other jobs.

Luke Houghton: I was a medical student when I joined the airforce as a cadet and therefore it was the only one open to me. And the only decision was which service and the answer to that question is above.

Andrea: Once trading as a med assiss the length of service is 9yrs.. do you have to trade up to corporal and beyond in order to carry on and do more years?

Luke Houghton: I think you do have to be promoted from SAC to Corporal to be offered an extension of service. But the promotion prospects are currently good for the medical assistant trade.

Katie: where did you study medicine and did you have a work-based placement in the RAF before the completing your studying?

Luke Houghton: I studied at St. Andrews University and Manchester University. I did not do an actual placement in the RAF prior to graduating. But I did have the opportunity to do my elective in America. (Elective by the way is study period in my final year). The opportunity was fantastic working alongside the American students doing a large medical exercise. And was not something I could have done if I'd not been in the forces.

Glenn: Do all RAF personnel have the oppertunity to see other parts of the world? or is it just air-crew and gunners?

Luke Houghton: Oh yes! All too frequently. Though the range of locations is somewhat limited at present.

matty: Does a medical officers role differ much from the role of a medical assistant?

Luke Houghton: Yes. The medical officers are effectively GP's. (Or specialists). Whereas the medical assistants provide a supporting role doing all the essential administrative tasks as well as gaining clinical experience whereever possible.

akshaye: what was it like adapting to life on base when you first started? was it anything like what you expected

Luke Houghton: It is difficult at first, but I'm not sure what I expected. Because, I do not come from a family with a service background. But the universal experience is that you are welcomed in to the messes (accommodation blocks) wherever you go. And as people move round so often, you quickly make friends and settle in.

cplwebb: what places around the world have you been?

Luke Houghton: I have been to the Falkland Islands twice. And i've also been to Basra in Iraq twice. Most recently returning in January of this year. As my biog said, I'm due to deploy to Afghanistan next year.

Jenny: what would you say was the best aspect of your job?

Luke Houghton: I think this would be the same outside and it's the patients. Though we do have the ability to get to know them better. And see them in their workplace which you would never get the opportunity to do in civvy street.

Katie: I am about to start my AS levels and am really considering joining the RAF to train as a Medical officer. I was just wondering what A-levels you took and what grades you gained?

Luke Houghton: My situation was little complicated. And I originally took chemistry, Zoology, and Maths. Gaining A, B and C grades. I returned to improve them and gained three A's. But at that time, A,B,C, was sufficient and St. Andrews accepted me on that basis. I'm aware that it is a lot more competitive to enter medical school now. And I suspect I would not have got a place.

Andrea: im joinin the raf at 27.. will there be many others my age or are the majority usually alot younger?

Luke Houghton: There are a whole range of ages of people starting in the RAF. And you'll bring a lot of experience to the job, (and may well find yourself supporting some of the younger recruits).

Welshandy: how long do you go away for??

Luke Houghton: Generally at the moment our out of area tours for medical officers are two months long. However, my last tour was slightly shorter due to the impending birth of my son. And the tour lengths in future are due to lengthen to three months. Other trades/branches tend to do four month tours with some doing six months now. The Air Crew though, tend to deploy for 6 weeks at a time for flying currency reasons.

Poppy: What did your family think about you joining the RAF?

Luke Houghton: My parents were hugely supportive (and very proud). My wife is supportive but it obviously impacts on her. Especially since the birth of our son. However, I am still 14 months in credit because she deserted me for two years to do VSO work in China.

Rossy: where is the most interesting place you have travelled while workin in the RAF

Luke Houghton: Both the Falklands and Basra are very interesting places in very different ways. But there is a greater opportunity to be able to appreciate the history of the Falklands when you are down there. Because, the environment is only hostile from a weather point of view!

Richard: During your Initial officer training with the RAF, how much soldiering and fieldcraft do you do? Do trades such as doctor do as much as other officers or is it all a standard course?

Luke Houghton: When I went through initial officer training, the course that the specialists such as the doctors and padres went on, was only 8 weeks. (It's now eleven weeks). Compared to 32 weeks on the main course now. However, we are expected to perform to a similar level and have the benefit of greater experience prior to attending.

X_PARIS_X: Do you think nursing in the RAF is much more exciting than nursing in the NHS?

Luke Houghton: Undoubtedly yes! There are lots more opportunities either to work abroad or to change location. And even changing across from hospital to general practice work or vice versa. There are also the opportunities to do Aeromed - where you could be travelling across the world to collect a patient to bring back to the UK.

Poppy: Do you get to play any sport?

Luke Houghton: Yes when I get the chance. We try and have a medical centre sports session once a week. But obviously this is dependant on the clinical workload. There are lots of opportunities to pursue sports at various competitive levels. And if you are good at a sport, you could find yourself on a tour to various countries to represent the RAF.

Mel: What has been the most difficult moment in your RAF career?

Luke Houghton: Excellent question! And I have been pondering on it since you sent it. I don't think I can single out any one moment because lots of occasions have seemed challenging at the time. But I suspect that what has challanged me the most, have been the emotional aspects of the job. And the separation that can result from being away.

Katie: did you get the RAF sponsorship for studying at university? if so would you recommend this for getting through uni?

Luke Houghton: I did get a Cadetship for my final three years at university. I would reccomend this if it is what you really want to do. But would advise people not to do it just for the money (which is obviously very enticing as a student!) The money should be an added bonus.

Poppy: Do you have to be fully qualifed before you join or can you get training once your in?

Luke Houghton: No, you do not have to be fully qualified (see above answer). But, if you joined as a medical assistant (for instance) you would not be able to upgrade to being a medical officer. You would need to leave, do your training, (possibly gain a cadetship) and then rejoin. If you're meaning do you have to be a fully qualified doctor, ie GP or consultant though, then the answer is you can start / continue your training in the airforce.

Eagle99: What is the accomadation like for airman on RAF bases?

Luke Houghton: The honest answer is highly variable. The new accommodation blocks that have been built over the last few years are fantastic. With en suite rooms. However, there is some accommodation around the airforce that is still below the level to which the airforce would aspire. But it's getting better!

Jilani: what made you want to do medicine?

Luke Houghton: Good question! But very difficult to answer. The long answer, is that I had always wanted to be a vet but they will now only let me loose on humans! But I also always wanted to join the RAF and that door was obviously not open to me as a vet. So it was a positive decision to go in to medicine. And I had already decided that I would try and join at the earliest opportunity. Needless to say, I am now very happy the way things worked out.

Wanna-b-an-RAFer: Did being in the Univ.Air Squad give you an idea what to expect when you joined RAF? Please explain! As I may well join my own local one.

Luke Houghton: It did in a minor way. And I had already joined as a cadet by the time I was on university air squadron. (I had applied to join the squadron earlier, but my eyesight precluded me - I believe that it is easier now to join as a ground member of a UAS). The university Air squadron set up is very good and does give you a broad overview of the RAF. But actually once you join it is obviously very different.

Alicia: What kind of responsibilities as an medical officer do you get e.g. leadership opportunities

Luke Houghton: Another good question! There are lots of leadership opportunities as a medical officer.You will frequently have several members of staff under your command. When I was recently in Basra, I had a total of 32 staff. And obviously part of my role was to provide leadership to them in the most demanding circumstances.

Chris L: Do you get to assosiate yourselfs with other people around the base? Or are like mst of your friends in your building?

Luke Houghton: Obviously, you get to know the people you work with the most. But, you do mix all the time with the rest of the station population. One of the important aspects of being a medical officer on a station, is getting around and viewing what people do and where they do it. And this is an excellant excuse to get you out of the office.

Jilani: are you able to do your foundation years after medical school in the raf or do they have to be in NHS hospitals?

Luke Houghton: I understand that there are currently opportunities to do your foundation years either at service hospital units (attached to certain district general hospitals), if you have been sponsored. Or, at NHS hospitals. I personally did both my house jobs (as they were in my day!) in military units (Haslar and Peterborough).

millsy: Hay, i'm currently a student nurse, intending to go to the raf post grad - ideally with a commission (which i need to get the min 2 years post grad experience if not more) but i'd be more than happy with entering at trade level. Two questions - How competative is professional entry such as nursing/medicine at the moment for both officer/trade levels and also - What are the opportunities for promotion at the trade level (if you're able to answer that!) As in how easy/hard is it for gaining promotion?

Luke Houghton: Wow that's a question and a half! And I would tend to refer you to your local careers information office because they will be able to give you personalised advice rather than me giving you what I think is the case. You could also take a look around the rest of the website - sorry I can not be more helpful.

Moderator: If you still need a bit more information on doctors or dentists contact Squadron Leader Jason Cowell Medical and Dental Liason Officer on 01400 266811, mdlo@cranwell.raf.mod.uk

Glenn: Is the RAF the kind of career you could see yourself doing for your whole working life?

Luke Houghton: Potentially yes. But, I am still relatively young (I keep telling myself), and realise that other factors (such as my family) may begin to have more of an effect.

MattD: Do you get called DR or Sir by your patients

Luke Houghton: Generally 'Sir'. But people of my rank and above would often refer to me as Doc. Which is generally a friendly term (I think!)

MattD: would you work for the NHS when you finish with the RAF?

Luke Houghton: Possibly indirectly because as I suspect you may well be aware, most GP's are independant service providers to the NHS. I still have lots of options open and have no plans to leave at the moment. So have not really thought about what I would do if I did leave.

akshaye: do you plan to leave te RAF at a certain age? if so, what would you go on to do?

Luke Houghton: No plans at present. See above! But would consider my options as the RAF as well as medicine provides various experiences. You can stay until you're 55 or even longer (depending on your commission).

Views expressed during the web chats are those of individuals and do not necessarily reflect RAF policy.