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and a framework within which his team could operate – mission command! This approach allowed them to operate autonomously within the shift patterns and remain adaptable, surging resources into the ICU as the Main Effort required. At Derriford hospital, in our home city of Plymouth, Black 8 had another team working alongside specialist Military Medical staff. For every week spent at the hospital they gained further trust from the NHS and specialist staff and their role changed from focusing on staff welfare and morale, to backfilling specialist duties as a result of the manning constraints facing the NHS team.
Our role, however slight, did have an impact on the staff and patients we assisted. The satisfaction of seeing the nurses smile at the end of their shifts, sick patients being able to call their family as a young gunner sits with them to hold up the phone, and seeing the health care assistants support clinical duties as our team cover off their domestic cleaning responsibilities. All of those moments have had a profound impact upon on the team. After almost 8
A JNCO deployed as part of a mobile
testing team during the first COVID-19 weeks in the hospitals, the beginning of March 21 wave
saw a steep decrease in COVID-19 patients being admitted which allowed the teams to recover to The Royal Citadel to conduct their post operational stress management and well-earned rest. Every individual from Black 8 who deployed into a hospital will have this experience forever ingrained in their memories for years to come; the NHS staff are made up of amazing and hardworking individuals, who when brought together, create an unstoppable team much like 8 Bty Group. South West NHS Staff and the men of 8 Bty formed a special bond that we hope will last long after COVID-19 is defeated.
EVERY INDIVIDUAL FROM BLACK 8 WHO DEPLOYED INTO A HOSPITAL WILL HAVE THIS EXPERIENCE FOREVER INGRAINED IN THEIR MEMORIES
29 COMMANDO REGIMENT ROYAL ARTILLERY 21