Page 4 - QARANC Vol 14 No 12 2016

2 QARANC THE GAZETTE
CNO(A) Foreword
I am delighted to be able to contribute to The Gazette as the newly appointed Chief Nursing Officer (Army) (CNO(A)). It is an honour and a privilege to have been appointed to the CNO(A) role and I relish the opportunity to ensure a strong nursing voice across all areas of the Army and to represent Army Nursing in the wider defence and civilian arena.
The change in title will not have gone unnoticed and this has come about due to the loss of the OF5 (Colonel) liability which underpinned the Director Army Nursing Service (DANS) appointment. From a professional perspective, it could not have happened at a worse time, with the regulatory requirements for nurses set to become more stringent with the first phase of nurse revalidation due to commence in April. However after much work to justify the requirement and negotiation to secure the liability, not to mention some fancy footwork, we have succeeded in establishing a temporary solution. Please be assured that I will continue to work hard to establish an enduring solution that will guarantee the
ongoing leadership of the Corps, which is essential if we are to drive forward the innovations required to maintain the world leading reputation of Army Nursing. As ever our people are nothing if not resilient, and nurses and health care assistants, wherever they practise, continue to work hard to ensure that the patient focus is not lost during this period of transition.
The QARANC Association continues to support both serving regular and reservists and retired members in support of their ‘objects’ and motto of ‘Friendship’. The Association remains the ‘steady state’ at this difficult time and I strongly support the work of the Trustees who are committed to ensuring we are well prepared for whatever the future might hold.
I conclude by wishing Colonel David Bates and his wife Helen a happy retirement from service life and hope they will continue to support the Association and its events. I look forward to meeting many of you over the coming months.
Col Karen Irvine RRC QHN L/QARANC CNO(A)
Chairman’s Report
Welcome to the Spring Edition of ‘The Gazette’ – as always the last six months have flown by with a lot of activity by Association Members, both serving and retired. We have said a sad farewell to Colonel David Bates as our President and bid a warm welcome to Colonel Karen Irvine who I am sure will continue to support the Association and its work throughout her tenure as Chief Nursing Officer (Army).
Some of you may have noticed that the information relating to our charitable status and Charity Number have changed at the front of this publication. As of 4 October 2015 the Charity Commission for England and Wales approved our new Constitution for registration as a Charitable Incorporated Organisation (CIO). May I take this opportunity of thanking the Branches for their help and cooperation in completing the administrative details required for the transition. The Trustees elected that the new Charity would become operational from 1 January 2016 and following audit the former charity (number 270278) will be closed. The ‘Objects’ of the CIO remain unchanged:
To promote the efficiency of the Army by:
1. Maintaining contact between past and present members of the Corps, fostering mutual friendship between them and providing for social gatherings for them; and Fostering Esprit de Corps, comradeship and the welfare of the Corps and preserving its traditions
2. To relieve either generally or individually members of the Association or past and present members of the Corps and their dependants, who are in conditions of need, hardship or distress.
A copy of the new constitution is enclosed with this Gazette along with information leaflets about the Association and our commitment towards the provision of benevolence and welfare. You will note from one of the articles in this edition that during the last financial year the
Association granted in excess of £50,000 to those in need hardship or distress. Please do not hesitate to contact the General Secretary or any Trustee if you would like further information about the work of the Trustees or any of the Branches.
Our next Annual Reunion
will soon be upon us – please
do not forget it will be held at the
Union Jack Club on 7 May 2016. If you
have not already booked and wish to attend please be advised that the last day for all bookings is 22 April 2016. We hope this is will be well attended and enjoyed by all members.
We are well underway with our plans for 2017 which is, of course, the 70th Anniversary of the formation of the QARANC Association. The Trustees have established Sub Committees to organise both a celebratory event and to hopefully design and procure some memorabilia. Should any member have any suggestions please do pass them to the General Secretary. It is important that we mark this significant milestone appropriately to reflect and celebrate the Association and the ‘Friendship’ it provides.
To conclude, I hope you enjoy this edition of ‘The Gazette’. Those of you who have access to our website www.qarancassociation.org.uk, please don’t forget to keep an eye here for other news. We welcome all items of interest for inclusion on the website or in ‘The Gazette’, which should be forwarded in the first instance to the General Secretary. Enjoy this edition and I look forward to meeting up with many of you at events across the country or at the Reunion in May.
Col Sue Bush RRC