Military Health Care Awards Launched

The thousands of military and civilian professionals who care for Britain's armed forces are being challenged to 'step forward and be recognised'.

Their excellence of care to serving personnel, at home and overseas, their families and service veterans is to be highlighted in the third annual Military and Civilian Health Partnership Awards.

They were launched on Thursday by Northern Ireland Health Minister, Michael McGimpsey in Belfast, accompanied by the Under Secretary of State for Defence, Andrew Robathan, and Air Vice Marshal Paul Evans, Commander Joint Medical Command at the Ministry of Defence.

The launch took place at Northern Ireland's Territorial Army base at Hydebank, south Belfast, where they met the staff of 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital and saw a trauma unit training situation being set-up.

The Awards are open to civilian health and social care staff and military medics working within the Defence Medical Services, the health service and the private or voluntary sectors.

They highlight and celebrate exceptional care for the Forces across all professional disciplines and settings.

Minister McGimpsey said: "As Health Minister I am very proud to be hosting the third annual competition.

"It is an opportunity to showcase and celebrate the very best in health and social care provided to our military personnel, their families and our service veterans," he said.

"The competition is not just about the health professionals that support our troops at war, exceptional though their service is. It is much wider than that.

"It is about celebrating the full range of the health and social care that the family of the Armed Forces draws on.

"The awards uniquely reinforce the very practical partnerships between the military, the civilian and the voluntary services who provide that care," he explained, urging nominations to be made so as to pay tribute to the excellence of service that together the military and civilian health and social care personnel provide.

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."

Last year Northern Ireland had finalists in four of the categories: 204 (North Irish) Field Hospital (V) were finalists in both the Education and Training and Deployed Healthcare Categories while Lt Col Tom Trinick of the 204 (N Irish) Field Hospital was a finalist in the Healthcare Reservist of the Year Category; and the UDR & Irish Aftercare Service were a finalist team in the Care of Veterans Category.

See: www.militarycivilianhealthawards.org

(BMcC/GK)