Page 6 - QARANC Vol 18 No 1 2020

4 The Gazette QARANC Association
Obituaries
Brigadier Janice Ann Cook 12 November 1967 – 10 Jan 2020
There are few indeed who have made such a significant impact on patient care as Brigadier Jan Cook. An inspirational role model for so many both within and outside the DMS; with quiet diligence, determination and modesty, she relentlessly championed a culture of safety and compassion for both patients and for those supporting and providing care. From her early nursing career as a LCpl, providing direct patient care, to her role as the Defence Medical Services Regulator, the patient, their families and those providing care and support, remained always her focus and absolute priority.
Born on 12 November 1967 into a close and hard-working farming family in the idyllic surrounds of the Lake District’s Lune Valley; throughout a very happy childhood, Brigadier Jan learned the value of the team; of caring for others; of working hard and of a kind word and laughter when times got tough. These traits, along with a deep humility and an easy manner with people; so typical of those who farm, stayed with her and guided her throughout her life.
Having joined the QARANC in 1986 as a Student Nurse, following her basic training at the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps Depot and Training Centre (QATC) in Aldershot, Jan undertook her nurse training in several military hospitals, including a secondment to the Royal Hospital Chelsea; a time from which she retained a great many fond memories. On completion of her initial training, Jan qualified as a Registered General Nurse at Woolwich in 1989.
After Commissioning from JNCO in 1991, Jan specialised in orthopaedics at Sheffield and North Trent College of Nursing and Midwifery, before taking up assignments in UK Military Hospitals as an orthopaedic nurse specialist. Always keen to seize the opportunity to deliver enhanced patient care, Jan was one of the first nurses to train as a Regimental Nursing Officer (RNO); a fore runner to the current Military Nurse Practitioner role. Following this training, she deployed as an RNO with
38 Engineer Regiment to Bosnia and with both 8 Royal Irish and 25 Engineer Regiment to Northern Ireland. Following Regimental Duty as the Nursing Officer at 4 Field Ambulance, her next appointment in the Duke of Connaught Unit in Belfast, saw her double hatted as both the Deputy Senior Nursing Officer and unit Training Major. Post these repeated tours in Northern Ireland, for which she was awarded her Accumulated Service Medal, she then served at Headquarters British Forces Germany, where she was responsible for specialist clinical services. Always striving to learn and improve, here she found time to complete her Master’s Degree in clinical risk management at University College London, securing a distinction, while also being the driving force behind the social scene at Rheindahlen’s Churchill Officers’ Mess.
From her role as Regional Healthcare Governance lead in Army Primary Healthcare in 2005, she promoted to Lieutenant Colonel, becoming SO1 Medical Support within the Permanent Joint Headquarters, from where she deployed several times to conduct operational assurance visits. Her considered, collegiate and timely guidance in this role helped to reduce risk in patient care while also supporting healthcare staff to enhance their own knowledge, understanding, and confidence. Serving next as the Deputy Chief of Staff within Headquarters 2nd Medical Brigade, she was known for her high standards, work ethic and unwavering focus on reducing patient risk; on this occasion through ensuring the delivery of healthcare governance and assurance within deployed hospital care.
Following graduation from the Advanced Command and Staff Course in 2012, as SO1 Organisation, Jan was the Army Medical Services’ lead officer during the major restructure of Army 2020; impacting future structures and capability for both the Army and Defence Medical Services. Subsequently, she was awarded the Order of St John for the outstanding energy and meticulous focus through which she applied her comprehensive
knowledge to enable the delivery of future DMS capability.
Promoting to Colonel from her role as Deputy Inspector General at Headquarters Surgeon General, she became the Assistant Head and Regional Clinical Director for Overseas Healthcare; taking on responsibility for assuring contracted and host nation delivered healthcare for more than 25,000 service personnel and their families. With typical zeal, having recognised some significant gaps, Jan pulled together a complex set of government stakeholders and drove through a plan. The resultant Global Medical Support Cell and aligned pre-screening processes have since ensured much improved patient care and safety for our deployed personnel.
Promoting to Brigadier in January 2019 as the first regular QARANC officer to achieve 1* rank in 20 years, she was appointed as Head of the newly formed Defence Medical Services Regulator. Her role as the leader of this independent team, part of the Defence Safety Authority was to regulate, assure, inspect and where necessary, take enforcement action to guarantee safety standards for healthcare across Defence in the UK and Overseas.
Throughout her career, Jan did things her own way. As a leader she had the ability to see others in a different light; never one to unquestioningly accept a negative impression of a colleague, she had an enviable talent to nurture, see