Scottish Government
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Military and Civilian Health Awards
The Public Health Minister and Brigadier David Allfrey have joined nurses recently back from Afghanistan to launch awards for Scotland's military health heroes.
Shona Robison met the nurses from the 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital (Volunteers) at the Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh as nominations open for the third annual Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards - celebrating the care given to and by the UK's service personnel, veterans and military families.
Senior Nursing Officer Helen Singh - a Senior Charge Nurse in Critical Care - and A&E Staff Nurse Captain Venetia Price have just come back from Afghanistan, while Head of Infection Control Services Major Fiona Cameron is about to be deployed.
Nine winners will be honoured in a range of categories at the awards ceremony in Belfast later this year:
- Innovation and Service Development Award
- Education and Training Award
- Health Improvement and Promotion Award
- Mental Health Award
- Healthcare Reservist of the Year
- Healthcare Regular of the Year Award
- Healthcare Civilian of the Year Award
- Care of Veterans Award
- Deployed Healthcare Award
Public Health Minister Shona Robison said:
"The 205 Field Hospital is the perfect example of what we celebrate with the Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards.
"These brave men and women have regular jobs in Scotland's health service, taking care of us all day in, day out. Through their service as TA reservists they also take the skills they learn in Scotland and use them to help save lives on operations - most recently in Afghanistan.
"In turn, the expertise they gain there benefits their patients in Scotland when they come home.
"I'm honoured to meet them and the others like them. Last year's awards were very successful for Scotland and I'd like to see us go even further this year. If you know a military health hero, let us know - and make sure they get the recognition they deserve."
205 Field Hospital Commanding Officer, Colonel David McArthur, said:
"205 Field Hospital is a shining example of the military and NHS working in partnership together.
"Our people spent a tough few months as soldiers in Afghanistan running the military hospital in Helmand. Now that they are back, they can apply the unique experiences, skills and knowledge they learnt out there to their day jobs back in NHS hospitals and clinics throughout Scotland.
"And conversely, the busy, varied work they do in the NHS provides ideal training and preparation for caring for injured or ill troops. It's beneficial all round and I'd especially like to thank NHS Lothian and other NHS boards for their considerable support."
Under-Secretary of State for Defence, Andrew Robathan, said:
"The Awards recognise outstanding achievements amongst those responsible for providing quality healthcare services to our Service men and women, their families, and veterans.
"Whether they are military or civilian, from Defence Medical Services, the NHS, part of a team or an individual, these awards recognise those who make a difference on a daily basis to those who have fought and sacrificed on our behalf".
The Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards 2010 are hosted this year by the Northern Ireland Executive - one member of a partnership comprising the Scottish Government, the Ministry of Defence, the UK Department of Health and the Welsh Assembly Government.
The Awards are open to military or civilian members of the Defence Medical Services, NHS or independent sector healthcare professionals who, either on an individual or team basis, have benefited the care of a member(s) of the Armed Forces. This includes veterans or their families.
Nominations open today, Thursday May 27. Entrants can be self-nominated or entered by patients, colleagues or members of the public. The Military and Civilian Health Partnerships Awards ceremony will take place later this year in Belfast.
