Page 17 - QARANC Vol 17 No 2 2019

and best practice, one example [from many] was the work undertaken by Major Nicki Corkish QARANC who developed and piloted a novel route of referral, which enabled employers for the first time to refer direct into OH to seek employability advice on their personnel; this sounds simple, but it is ground breaking stuff. Rapid referral and access was a key feature of the seminal work by Wardell, Burton and Kendall (2006)3, and having been enshrined in a number of HM Government reports, it now shapes modern thinking. Rapid access to OH has a positive correlation with successful return to work, therefore the logic behind Maj Corkish’s thinking was ‘let’s develop a process to achieves this, as we see our people too late to make a meaningful improvement to their employability’. The second and third order effects of direct referral have been simply amazing, engendering better Chain of Command relationships, improved communication, safer workplaces and Service Personnel who feel an investment in their work-place health. Her work was so impressive that Maj Nicki Corkish QARANC was awarded the Anne Harriss award [Reader in Educational Development and OH Nursing Course Director, London South Bank University] for innovative Occupational Health Nursing. Unfortunately, Anne was conducting research in Africa, so the honour of awarding this prize fell to me.
As I write this, the Defence Fit for Work Network has now been empowered, by policy, to make Fit for Work (JMES) determinations, moreover the FfW brand is permeating into the nomenclature of our policy makers, now featuring in the new PULHHEEMS Policy and is expected to be enshrined in future Joint Medical Employment Policy. This is merely the starting pistol for wider reform, as the Network also continues to develop its work and remains poised to inform and shape a number of nascent studies, such as the QARANC structural review, the Army OH Review and the Defence Medical Employment Policy Review. Exciting times lie ahead for OH Nurses and Occupational Therapists of the Defence Fit for Work Network.
Lieutenant Colonel Geoff Hall
3 Waddell G, Burton K, and Kendall NAS (2006) Vocational Rehabilitation: what works, for whom and when? Department of Work and Pensions, HM Government. The Stationery Office.
Major Nicki Corkish receiving the Anne Harriss Award for for innovative Occupational Health Nursing
The Gazette QARANC Association 15
Defence Engagement Visit – Nepalese Military Nurses
A three year assignment at Headquarters Regional Command as SO1 Med Plans saw the unique opportunity in joint collaboration with Defence Primary Healthcare to develop and embed Healthcare Governance in Nepal across two locations based in Katmandu and Pokhara. It also provided the chance to initiate and take part in Defence Engagement with the Nepalese Military. Colonel Winder and I had the privilege of meeting the Brigadier General who commands the medical services and who was very keen to enhance relationships with the British Army Medical Services. The Brigadier General was also keen to explore the possibility of engaging with our continuing professional development to include attending training courses and conferences to develop and enhance their clinical skills and knowledge.
The QARANC was delighted to be able to oblige and facilitated our first Defence Engagement visit by inviting two Nepalese nurses for a week to attend the Chief Nursing Officer Symposium in March. I had the pleasure of hosting Major Kayastha and Warrant Officer 1 Maharjan for a week, which included attending the symposium where they were able to gain an understanding of our Corps’ current themes and future initiatives and meet a plethora of QARANC across the Corps working in different specialties and environments.
The visit also included introducing them to our military role 1-4, primary and secondary healthcare delivery with a visit to 4 Medical Regiment who expertly demonstrated a medical moulage in their Regimental Aid Post. The visit then moved onwards to our Joint Hospital Group, South East at Frimley Park Hospital to meet some of nurses and healthcare assistants and experience an NHS environment. The week was rounded off with a trip to the Florence Nightingale Museum and some essential London sightseeing.
It proved a successful visit and on a recent trip, which saw Colonel Winder (ACOS Med at Regional Command) and I return for our annual assurance visit to Nepal, we met again with the Brigadier General and this time their Chief Nursing Officer. They are both very keen to enhance our International Defence Engagement partnership and develop further relations and are very willing to reciprocate with inviting the Army Medical Services to attend one of their disaster relief exercises, which they conduct on a regular basis. Due to Nepal having a diverse geography they are vulnerable to earthquakes and the Nepalese Army is regularly called to assist the government to provide medical aid in the event of natural disasters. This would be an unique opportunity for British Army Medical Services personnel to gain valuable experience in disaster relief medicine which will be hugely beneficial for future defence humanitarian operations.
This is an exciting prospect to develop and I can thoroughly recommend the post as SO1 Med Plans in Regional Command for anyone who wishes to gain an interesting and a diverse experience working in Med Branch for both the 3* / 2* headquarters of Home Command and Regional Command.
Lieutenant Colonel Tessa Grieves SO1 Med Plans
Headquarters Regional Command