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East of England Ambulance service (EEAST) has launched a new network to provide improved support to its staff who are veterans and reservists, as well as their families.
Launched to coincide with Armed Forces Week (22-28 June), EEAST’s Armed Forces Network is a space for connection, support and shared experience which will help the service provide better support to its 40 staff who re active serving personnel, reservists, military co-responders, or cadet forces adult volunteers.
EEAST said it actively encourages engagement, recruitment, and development of service leavers, including military veterans, their dependents and reservists.
“Within EEAST we have a wide range of people from within the military communities, whether by being veterans, reservists, military co-responders who volunteer with us in their spare time, or by being the spouses of those currently serving.
“We hope our Armed Forces Network will provide a space where veterans, reservists and their families can come together to improve the support we offer to staff.
“We also recognise that EEAST’s patients that are veterans can also have complex and specific needs and we hope that the lived experience of members of the Armed Forces Network will also help us improve the support we provide to those patients.”
EEAST CEO Neill Moloney.
As a provider of medical care, EEAST staff often serve as reservists, but the service also has reservists in non-medical roles including the RAF Regiment, Army Infantry Regiments, Royal Marines, Signals and logistics, and Royal Navy.
Medical reservists play an essential role in the armed forces and the training they receive brings a wealth of skills and experience to their main employers (in the NHS). The average reservist receives training worth approximately £8,000 each year in transferrable skills such as in communications, IT and LGV licences. Therefore, the more reservists the Trust employs, the more it benefits.
Being a reservist also develops operational skills including teamwork, leadership and improvising in unfamiliar of difficult circumstances.
EEAST works closely with the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (DRES) and holds their Gold Award in recognition of its support and commitment to reserves and veterans. EEAST was one of the first UK ambulance trusts to hold this award and continue to work with colleagues across other ambulance trusts to share best practice and explore further opportunities for collaboration.
The service also holds ‘Veterans Aware Trust’ status as part of the Veterans Covenant HealthCare Alliance (VCHA).
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