28 June 2010
Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust has officially been thanked for the support it has given the armed forces after two members of staff - nurse Elaine Howlin and radiographer Karen Dear - recently returned from tours of duty in Afghanistan.
The Commanding Officer of 256 (City of London) Field Hospital (Volunteers), Colonel Peter Gilbert TD, RAMC (V) presented two limited edition prints of a war-scene painting to the Trust's Chief Executive, Samantha Jones, to officially thank the organisation for its support 'releasing' the territorial army volunteers for operational duty.
Major Howlin and Captain Dear were stationed at Camp Bastion Field Hospital from October 2009 to January 2010.
Colonel Gilbert, who works as a GP in Rochester, has been in the Royal Army Medical Corp Regular and Territorial for 36 years. He said: "Territorial Army medics are a vital part of the Army medical service. The support of NHS trusts has been absolutely fundamental to the continued running of the field hospital at Camp Bastion.
"We are extremely grateful for the continued support of Epsom and St Helier hospitals, and for the support they have shown Major Howlin and Captain Dear."
Samantha Jones, Chief Executive said: "On a personal level, I am deeply humbled by the work of our Armed Forces and I am extremely proud of both Elaine and Karen. I am glad to be able to offer the Trust's full support to them."
At the presentation, Major Howlin explained the difference between her normal working day in the clinical assessment unit at Epsom Hospital and being a medic in the Territorial Army. She said: "Although the nursing skill required is the same, being an Army medic is a totally different type of medicine: you are extremely focused on a few severely injured casualties. I come from an Army family and, though I never wanted to join up as a career full-time, it is an incredibly rewarding experience."
Captain Dear added: "Whatever happens, 24-hours-a-day, you have to deal with it. There are no breaks or time off at weekends and, after three months of life being that intense, it can be difficult to get back into the rhythm of ordinary life, it's hard to slow down."
The painting, entitled Safe Return by Tom Kelly is presented to organisations who have given support to the Territorial Army Medical Services by allowing their staff to serve in its ranks. It is limited to a print run of 300. One was presented to St Helier Hospital and one to Epsom Hospital, where they will be displayed in public areas.
