Last week was Armed Forces week which aims every year to show support for the people who make up the Armed Forces community. NHS Lothian employs several members of the armed forces reserve as well as providing support to currently serving troops, their families, veterans and cadets.
In NHS Lothian we also work with the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) whose key aim is to provide a high-quality medical welfare service to the armed forces when they are in patient care.
John McQuat, Welfare Officer explains his role:
“I am employed by the DMWS to provide welfare support to the military community, both serving and veterans whilst they are in Hospital. I’m based in the discharge HUB at both the Western General and St John’s and work alongside the discharge facilitators and social work teams. The DMWS are employed by NHS Lothian to provide this service as part of an initiative which was launched by Dr Tracey Gillies, Executive Medical Director, who is the Armed Forces Champion for NHS Lothian.”
Dr Tracey Gillies says:
“In NHS Lothian we would like to recognise and celebrate the work that the people of the Royal Navy, British Army and Royal Air Force, as well as Veterans, Cadets and Armed Forces families all play in keeping the UK safe, at home and abroad.
“We appreciate the work being done by John and his colleagues in DMWS to ensure we provide the best support for those from the armed forces who are under our care and in our communities.”
Armed Forces Week ran from Monday 19 June through to Armed Forces Day on Saturday 24 of June. If you would like to know more please go to https://www.armedforcesday.org.uk/
