Hospital staff came together to celebrate members of the Armed Forces within their ranks at an event held by Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust to mark Armed Forces Week.
The event saw staff members who are also part of the armed forces community come together with other hospital staff to share their experiences, reflect on the shared values of the armed forces and the NHS, and recognise the contribution of the armed forces community.
Reservists, veterans and those with a close family military connection from clinical and non-clinical teams across the Trust, including emergency departments and theatres, were welcomed to the event.
Nichola Jones, associate director of pharmacy for Hampshire Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, was one of the many who attended and swapped pharmacy green for Royal Air Force blue.
Outside of helping to deliver pharmacy services for patients in Basingstoke, Andover and Winchester, Nichola spends two evenings a week as a training officer for the 1105 City of Winchester RAF Air Cadet squadron, where she helps to run a programme to support young cadets complete a BTEC qualification.
Nichola said: “It’s been fantastic to see staff come together from all over the Trust to celebrate the week. When I was young, being a cadet helped to shape who I am, so I wanted to give back and support other young people to have the same valuable experiences, and I’m still doing it 16 years later! I get a lot of support from the Trust to accommodate my connection to the Armed Forces, which I am very grateful for.
“There is a huge overlap between the work of the NHS and the Armed Forces, particularly as both rely so heavily on teamwork. There is a great resource through the shared workforce and knowledge between the different organisations, and I’m always encouraged to see Hampshire Hospitals actively recruiting in the Armed Forces community.”
Hampshire Hospitals is committed to supporting the armed forces as an employer and was presented with the Ministry of Defence’s Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Gold Award by Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, in 2017.
