Life in the army gave me a resilience that many people don't have

Nottinghamshire Healthcare has been a long supporter of the Armed Forces Community and recognise the valuable contribution, wealth of experience and skills that armed forces personnel and their families bring to the organisation and that this contributes to the delivery of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led patient care.

In supporting the armed forces, the Trust has signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant and NHS Employers Step into Health programme. Armed forces and their families include service leavers, reservists, veterans, Cadet Forces adult volunteers and spouses, partners and families of those serving.

Samantha Palmer, Admin Team Leader in the Adult Mental Health Services has always been involved in army life. In fact, she actually joined at birth. She tells her story of being raised in such a different lifestyle and why she decided to join the NHS.

Samantha Palmer, Admin Team Leader

Royal Air Force veteran shares his life as a chef in the Armed Forces and how it compares to his role in the NHS

For Armed Forces Week, we’re sharing stories from our reservists and veterans who, having had a career in the Armed Forces have now chosen to continue their career in the NHS.

Nottinghamshire Healthcare has been a long supporter of the Armed Forces Community and recognise the valuable contribution, wealth of experience and skills that Armed Forces personnel and their families bring to the organisation and that this contributes to the delivery of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led patient care.

In supporting the Armed Forces, the Trust has signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant and NHS Employers Step into Health programme. Armed Forces and their families include service leavers, reservists, veterans, Cadet Forces adult volunteers and spouses, partners and families of those serving.

Hear from Brian Bonner who started work at the Trust in February 2021 as a Facilities Coordinator. He joined the Royal Air Force initially as a driver but had to re-muster to be a chef due to his colour blindness causing difficulty. Brian talks about his time in the Royal Air Force and what made him choose a career in the NHS.

 

Brian Bonner, Facilities Coordinator

How my army reservist role has gone on to shape my civilian career in the NHS

Nottinghamshire Healthcare has been a long supporter of the Armed Forces Community and recognise the valuable contribution, wealth of experience and skills that Armed Forces personnel and their families bring to the organisation and that this contributes to the delivery of safe, effective, caring, responsive and well-led patient care.

In supporting the Armed Forces, the Trust has signed up to the Armed Forces Covenant and NHS Employers Step into Health programme. Armed Forces and their families include service leavers, reservists, veterans, Cadet Forces adult volunteers and spouses, partners and families of those serving.

For Armed Forces Week, we’re sharing stories from our reservists and veterans who, having had a career in the Armed Forces have now chosen to continue their career in the NHS.

Angela Holland started work at the Trust at the beginning of last year as a Research Delivery Assistant (RDA). Angela had not planned on being a reservist. It was only when she went to Australia and New Zealand on a working visa and met someone that was talking about the fitness training they did with the Territorial Army, that planted a seed for what would become an exciting career move.  

Angela Holland

As part of Stroke Awareness Month, Christopher Watterson from Woodborough, Nottinghamshire, is sharing his experience of a stroke and how it left him thinking what the future would bring. With the support of the Trust’s Community Stroke team, and Christopher’s fantastic motivation, he is now on the road to recovery.  

A stroke happens when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off, killing brain cells. Damage to the brain can affect the way your body works, and it can also change how you think and feel. There are more than 100,000 strokes in the UK each year with around one in four strokes happening to people of working age.

 

Emma and Jasmine from the Community Stroke team who supported
Christopher Watterson following his stroke

Celebrating Volunteers’ Week: “Finding purpose in what was once a great struggle is the most fulfilling journey.”

It’s Volunteers’ Week, 1 – 7 June, and we’re celebrating and recognising the fantastic work of our volunteers. 

Nottinghamshire Healthcare has 185 registered volunteers who give hundreds of hours of their time every week supporting staff, patients and their families. Our volunteers bring skills, knowledge and a desire to make a difference to our services and the lives of the people we care for. 

We spoke to Samantha Houghton, who has been a volunteer for the Trust for 2 months. Living through her own experience of complex trauma for many years, Samantha feels very fortunate to be on the other side of significant difficulties with her mental and emotional health and talks about how this has helped her make a difference to those that have endured similar struggles.

Befriender Samantha Houghton

A day in the life of a community Macmillan nurse

Dying Matters Awareness Week, 10-16 May 2021, focuses on the importance of being in a good place to die. The pandemic has proven that it is more important than ever for people to think about it, talk about it and plan for it. Sophie Richardson, community Macmillan nurse, looks after adults diagnosed with non-curable cancer thought to be in their last year of life with complex symptoms and complex psychological needs in the community. She shares what it’s like to work in such a role and what it involves.

Sophie Richardson, Community Macmillan Nurse

Community nursing team enabled me to become a daughter again, not a carer during Dads last days

As part of Experience of Care Week, we’re sharing a story about the valuable work of one of the Trust’s community nursing teams and how they supported end of life care with care and compassion for a truly amazing gentleman and his family.

Jill Cowley’s father, Douglas, was aged 92 when he passed away. She is immensely grateful for the support she received from Retford and District Community Nursing Team for the care and compassion they gave her father during his last days.

Douglas with his grandson George

Read Jill's story: