It’s Armed Forces Week and yesterday, Monday 24, members of the 901 Troop Marine Cadets, TS Fearless, visited our hospital to help us raise our flag ahead of Armed Forces Day on Saturday, 29 June.
Armed Forces Week is a chance to show support for the men and women who make up the Armed Forces community, from serving troops to Service families, veterans and cadets.
The Marine Cadets, based in Winterton, have previously supported the James Paget by working on our safe garden – a courtyard at our hospital which was specifically created for veterans, and those with learning disabilities, autism or dementia, to use as a quiet and calm space. One of the Troop instructors Jo-anne Brown, who works at our hospital, has set up links between the Cadets and our team.
Our Armed Forces Advocate Chris Blyth, who had a 23-year career with the British Army before joining our hospital team, was among those at the flag raising. He currently works to support veterans – both patients and staff – who come to the James Paget, with his work including the setting up of regular Veterans Coffee Mornings, open to all those who have served with any branch of the UK Armed Services. The next of these events is being held tomorrow, Wednesday, 26 June, in the Louise Hamilton Centre, on our hospital site, between 11am and 2pm.
You can find out more about Chris’s work, and the support available, on our website here: https://www.jpaget.nhs.uk/patients-visitors/armed-forces-advocate/