Troops help support us in our time of need

The military have joined forces with the Trust to help support frontline workers and keep our hospital services running smoothly.

Soldiers have been deployed across our hospital sites, boosting morale among staff and taking on additional tasks around the hospitals. 

Most of our staff have been vaccinated and those who were off due to COVID-19 are now returning to the workforce, but having the army join us has been such a welcome addition. 

On behalf of the Trust we would like to thank them for their efforts, as they have made a huge difference to work capacities. They helped with distributing goods to wards, portering, liaising with the public, helping build our vaccination hubs and many other tasks.

Private Armando Morris said: “The NHS staff have been exceptional in the way they have welcomed and mentored our support and it has been a privilege to work alongside them. We are proud to be working for and supporting our community with like-minded people in the NHS. Despite being from two organisations, over the past four weeks we have become a close team who are in this together.”

Cathy Hill, Deputy Director of Nursing at West Middlesex Hospital, who was responsible for keeping them busy at the hospitals, said: “Our Army colleagues have been superb in supporting our hospitals’ patients and staff during the past four weeks.  They have worked seven days a week assisting on the wards, helping distribute deliveries and liaising with families and friends of patients.  

“All this with a great ‘can-do’ attitude and ever welcoming smiles! It has been a pleasure and a privilege to work alongside the Army and a huge thank you from everyone at the hospital.” 

Army Lieutenant Luke Talkington reflected on his time at the Trust and the many patients and staff he encountered along the way: “It has been an incredibly rewarding and humbling experience to work with the NHS. A different task to what we are used to, but I am proud in the way in which my soldiers have adapted and performed to support the NHS. We have been welcomed by an incredibly friendly group of nurses and volunteers who, like us, take great pride in serving their community.”

Join us in applauding them for their continued efforts to support the NHS at this incredibly challenging time.