Page 29 - QARANC Vol 20 No 2 2022

The annual Royal College of Nursing (RCN) Nurse of the year (NOTY) awards took place in the beautiful setting of the 5-star Culloden Hotel near Bangor in Northern Ireland (NI). As ever these awards highlight excellence in nursing but this year the finalists also had to personify the exceptional contribution made by nursing staff throughout the Covid 19 pandemic.
This year’s finalists for the Defence Nursing Reservist Award, sponsored by Defence relationship management, were Squadron leader O’Neil from 502 (Ulster) Squadron RAF and Captain Seamus Reid Fox 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital.
As the lead nurse for acute medicine during the pandemic where 110 Combat Medical Technicians (CMTs) were deployed across NI, Seamus directly managed a (CMT’s) induction programme, involving security,
orientation, changing facilities, clinical rotas, food and vaccination packages.
He excelled not only because of his selfless commitment and drive, but also because he understood what was required of the CMT workforce.
Seamus supported the CMTs by engaging with them regularly and being both visible and approachable. He inspired the multi-disciplinary team to develop new ways of working with external and internal stakeholders, practicing across boundaries, and encouraging CMTs to develop within their roles.
Under his leadership, psychological recovery and support packages for CMTs was developed and implemented. The success of the programme delivered within the trust attracted positive feedback from the Military Aid to Civilian Authority (MACA) liaison team and they commended his efforts in “going that extra mile”.
Seamus had the insight as a Reserve nursing officer working within a busy NHS hospital trust to understand ‘both worlds’ and realised very quickly that the CMTs were working in unfamiliar environments and required that extra tier of support.
The positive outcomes from this programme will set a benchmark for future collaborative working and Health Minister (NI) Robin Swann spoke personally to Seamus at the award ceremony and thanked him for his efforts in making his part of the project so successful.
Seamus has demonstrated and exceeded many areas of the Army Leadership code and the values and standards expected of him as a serving Nursing officer and truly deserves his award as Defence Reservist Nurse of the Year runner up.
The Gazette QARANC Association 29
Captain Seamus Reid Fox and Major Gaby Smyth
Award recognises Seamus’ great contribution in pandemic