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Army accolade for Southport
and Ormskirk NHS trust
A NHS trust has been recognised for the
outstanding support it gives to the British Army during times of conflict.
Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust was named public sector winner at the
North West Armed Forces Business Awards.
Judges commended the Trust for its:- "outstanding support given to the
Reserve Forces." On top of their regular medical jobs, several Hospital staff give time as
reservists and have been deployed across the world from the Balkans to Sierra
Leone.
Dr James Hammond is a Consultant Anaesthetist and since 2002 he has been
deployed to Bosnia, Kuwait, Iraq (twice) and Afghanistan (three times).
He said:- "The Trust has always been very supportive of my role as an army
reservist, supporting my training, and colleagues have also been very
understanding when I've been away on operations."
Kath Higgins, Head of Nursing for Planned Care, was deployed to Sierra Leone in
October last year to help in the fight against ebola. She worked as a nursing
officer in Kerrytown Ebola Treatment Centre.
Kath said:- "The Trust has been flexible in allowing me to go on
deployment sometimes at very short notice. Colleagues at the hospital have also
shown a positive interest in my army role."
Helen Mackay is a Consultant in Orthopaedics and Trauma. She has worked as a
reservist for 13 years and completed an operational tour of Afghanistan. She
said:- "It's fantastic that the Trust supports its staff in their work as
army reservists. The experience we get in operational roles around the globe
also has a positive impact on our day to day roles at the Hospital."
Major Davey Harvey, 42nd Infantry Brigade, said:- "Having time and energy
to support any Armed Forces Reserve needs special mention, and Southport and
Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust have it in spades.
Absolutely well done as we really do appreciate the full support you bring and
we wouldn't be able to field a Reserve Force if it wasn't for the backing of
businesses, local authorities and of course the great British public." |
