Members of the armed forces community are being celebrated today across Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust on Armed Forces Day 2022 (Saturday 25 June).
The annual campaign marks an opportunity to show support for the men and women who make up the armed forces community, from current serving troops to service families, veterans and cadets.
The Trust was proud to sign the Armed Forces Covenant in November 2021 and currently holds the Bronze Award – this underlines its commitment to expanding the support available to armed forces colleagues. It also includes support with wellbeing and flexible working, while giving military personnel the recognition they deserve.
Head of Emergency Preparedness, Resilience and Response Mark Hart spent over 22 years in the Royal Navy, serving across all range of warships. He joined Britannia Royal Naval College at Dartmouth in 1985 as a Warfare Officer and went on to be deployed in posts across the globe – including the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean, West Indies and Africa.
He said: “It is excellent that the Trust recognises this important national day and reflects upon our armed forces – those currently serving and veterans. And sadly, it is pertinent that this year we all do so with war again on mainland Europe and recognising the professional and sacrifices made. It is pleasing to see our Trust recognises this day and spends a little moment to reflect.”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, the military continued to go above and beyond – offering their assistance to NHS staff on the frontline and behind the scenes. At Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust volunteers from RE:ACT, an emergency and crisis response charity, worked alongside staff in a number of roles, including portering and administration.
Associate Director – Patient Relations & Experience and Armed Forces Champion for the Borough of Walsall Garry Perry said: “From providing vital personal protective equipment (PPE), to setting up and manning COVID-19 test centres, colleagues in the armed forces kept us safe and guided us through the most difficult of times.
“Matthew Hill, who works in my team as a Patient Experience Officer, is a Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineer (REME) reservist and the skills and values both he and his armed forces peers have are closely aligned to the NHS way of working – with a particular emphasis on service, commitment and respect.
“Armed Forces Day is a day for celebration and to show the pride we have in the excellence and professionalism of our service men and women.”
Chief Executive Professor David Loughton added: “There is more to hospitals than just doctors and nurses and we have lots of roles that former armed forces and reservists can help fill with their expert skills developed during their military training and deployments.
“We recognise the values and transferable skills the Armed Forces community bring and with those qualities, their compatibility with our roles. As we work towards our Silver Award, we are grateful for the skills this community brings to the Trust, helping us to deliver our purpose to put patients first. Thank you.”