Page 9 - QARANC Vol 14 No 8 2014

THE GAZETTE QARANC 7
Chief Nursing Officer Wales visit to Camp Bastion 5 to 9 December 2013
The Chief Nursing Officer for Wales (CNO Wales), Professor Jean White, visited nurses and other health professionals deployed to the UK Medical Group in Camp Bastion in early December accompanied by the Director of Army Nursing Services, Colonel David Bates.
Professor Jean’s mission was to gain a better understanding of what experience and transferrable skills are gained by NHS employees deploying on operations. This is very important as the future role of the Reserves will be reliant on a partnership between the individual, the employer and the military. She met a number of Welsh nurses in the Army Reserve and a few members of 4626 Royal Auxiliary Air Force Squadron working in the Deployed Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron under command of 203 Field (Welsh) Hospital. Professor Jean had visited the unit going through its Mission Specific Assessment at the Army Medical Services Training Centre near York earlier in the year but this visit allowed her to see the output of the previous 18 months’ training and the benefits that would be brought back to the NHS recognising that Regular RN, Army and RAF clinical staff will be returning to their MOD Hospital Units and the Royal Centre for Defence Medicine where they make their contribution to the NHS team.
Professor Jean said in her Press Notice:
“There is a wonderful sense of camaraderie and team working. The staff show an inspirational dedication to caring for all the injured who come to the hospital.
“The hospital staff also care for the military dogs, who get the same high tech care as human casualties. Everyone, even canine personnel, is treated with great skill and compassion.
“I witnessed world class emergency care, a real ‘can do’ approach, a selfless attitude and effective multidisciplinary working. The supportive environment helps staff deal with what they experience every day; and they have an absolutely clear understanding of what they are there to do. It really is all about the patient - human or dog.
“I spent three days with these wonderful people and I would like to extend my thanks, not just to those serving in the field hospital who look after our military personnel, but to their families and work colleagues in Wales for supporting their loved ones in their hugely important roles.”
She also delivered seasonal greetings from the Health
Professor Jean White, CNO Wales standing next to a MASTIFF Protected Ambulance operated by 2 Medical Regiment.
Colonel Tina Donnelly, Commanding Officer UK Role 3 Camp Bastion Operation HERRICK 19A.
Minister and Chief Executive of the NHS in Wales:
“The letters were full of recognition for the tremendous work the staff are doing, and acknowledged the hardships the healthcare workers face being so far away from their friends
and family – especially at this time of year.”
“I found this to be an incredibly rewarding experience. I
was bringing with me supportive messages from the Health Minister, Mark Drakeford and from NHS Chief Executive David Sissling. I brought home not only a return letter for the Health Minister from Commanding Officer Colonel Tina Donnelly– but an insight into the day-to-day life of our nursing and medical personnel serving on the front line”.
This visit also demonstrated synergies between nursing in the Devolved Administrations in general and Wales in particular with the work that Professor Jean has championed developing the roles of Advanced Nurse Practitioners (ANPs) and greater autonomy for nurses which delivers greater freedom of action and access to high quality, safe and efficacious health or care interventions to people in remote areas. This is in addition to the force multiplying effect that ANPs bring to health centres and medical treatment facilities across community, secondary and tertiary care sectors of the healthcare system. This was brought out and developed during an office call with Colonel Ashleigh Boreham, Commander Medical for HERRICK 19, and widened to include similar initiatives that are being worked up with the Scottish Government to support preparation for operations, recruitment to the Reserve and demonstrating the transferrable skills and experience that is ploughed back into the NHS. The implications for future operations were also identified and this co-operative style of working is likely to increase with greater emphasis being placed on the Total Force Concept (Regulars, Reserves, NHS Support to Operations and the private sector working together) and the New Employment Model which will facilitate switching from Regular to Reserve service and vice versa providing flexibility to people as their lives progress.
Professor White and Colonel Bates would like to thank all in 203 (Welsh) Field Hospital, 2nd Medical Brigade, Permanent Joint Headquarters, Joint Force Support (Afghanistan) and the UK Medical Group for their support in planning and executing this visit.