The setting of the hospital gave rise to the nickname Alcatraz, and it was staffed by personnel from the Royal Air Force and the British Army.

[3][4] Initially, this was a set of prefabricated bungalows cobbled together until a more permanent structure was created,[5] and was located as part of the base complex itself.

The hospital was built 3 miles (4.8 km) west of the airfield because of a perceived threat of bombing from foreign aircraft.

[12] Due to its remote location from the rest of the RAF base, its northern flank consisting of brown earth, sea to the south and the building's design; it soon acquired the nickname of Alcatraz.

[16] Service personnel and their dependents were the primary users of the hospital, though any nationalities were treated when they needed emergency care.

[17] Treatment of Cypriots for non-emergency cases was undertaken on the availability of bed-spaces and a repayment for the medical care offered.

This was stated to be good for the community and also as a way of "widen[ing] the case mix and the professional training and experience of service doctors.

[21] In October 1983, American and French service personnel were evacuated to TPMH after simultaneous bomb attacks on their barracks in the Lebanese city of Beirut.

In the event, casualty numbers were lower than anticipated, and so the facility was returned to normal operations as soon as hostilities ceased.

[26] In 1991, Jackie Mann, Terry Waite and John McCarthy were all given a medical examination upon their release from captivity before being taken by aircraft to RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.

[37] TPMH was awarded the Wilkinson Sword of Peace three times during its history; for the Cyprus Emergency in 1974, in 2002 for its benefit to the wider community and in 2006, for its support to Operation Highbrow.