Page 32 - QARANC Vol 14 No 9 2014

30 QARANC THE GAZETTE
Health Minister launches RCN
Defence Nursing Network in
Northern Ireland
A new Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Defence Nursing Network aimed at nurses and health care assistants from Northern Ireland who serve within the armed forces, has been officially launched by Health Minister Edwin Poots.
This will provide a professional network for RCN members in Northern Ireland who work in the areas of defence nursing and medicine.
Speaking at the launch which took place at RCN Headquarters in Belfast, Health Minister Edwin Poots said:
“This evening gives me an opportunity to express my gratitude for the significant contribution that you have made to the support of our troops particularly those in Afghanistan.
“I want to thank all military medical personnel for the care, commitment and professionalism that you devote to ensuring the best possible outcome for our troops and others injured.
“Defence nursing is an active and dynamic branch of nursing and a discipline where there is a substantial transfer of knowledge and expertise
between defence nursing, medicine and general health care.
“This network will be a very valuable forum for sharing professional practice and for just taking time out to get together with like minded people who understand your issues.”
Major Gaby Smyth will lead the network in Northern Ireland. Gaby works in a local emergency department and is a reserve nursing officer with 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital (Volunteers).
She said:
“The launch of the network will
promote the work and image of Defence Nursing Services in Northern Ireland, provide us with the opportunity to connect with tri - service colleagues, and engage with the wider nursing community. We have much to learn from each other and the network will provide a forum for sharing research, innovative practice and professional support.”
It was an amazingly positive presentation. The RN and RAF representatives were there it was an inclusive evening.
Joan Thompson – QARANC Association – NI Branch
News from Northern Ireland
Whilst DCU was open there was a large contingency of QARANC serving personnel situated in Northern Ireland which meant there was a greater input and involvement with the Northern Ireland Branch.
Today’s climate in Northern Ireland means there is only a handful of serving personnel in the Province, these are mainly at JHC FS Aldergrove based in the Medical Reception Station (MRS) however these numbers are slowly being gapped or civilianised.
Luckily the NI Branch has some very enthusiastic and committed members both retired and serving which means the legacy of the Association lives on. We finally managed to get a few people together for a day trip out on June
11th 2014 and thankfully the weather was outstanding, which can be a rare thing in Northern Ireland. We visited BallyWalter Park which is the home of Lord & Lady Dunleath and has been in their family for 170 years. The Mansion house has been afforded a Grade A listing of exceptional architectural importance. The house is surrounded by 30 acres of grounds.
The House has provided a location for scenes based in London, Paris, Sarajevo, Brussels, St Petersburg and Berlin, to name but a few, as well as more local ones within Northern Ireland. Externally the Grounds and Demesne has doubled as World War I trenches in Flanders, a Golf and Country Club, a picnic spot for Hitler, Hyde Park, a graveyard and a rural cricket ground
Lord and Lady Dunleath gave us a personal tour of the house with many a story and funny quips during our relaxed and historical adventure.
I am hoping this trip will be the first of many a get together for all members.
SSgt Charlie Gilbert