1 July
The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) has retained its Silver Employer Recognition Award (ERS) for its commitment to support Armed Forces.
The scheme celebrates and recognises employers who actively demonstrate and pledge their support to the Armed Forces community.
SaTH was first presented with the silver award in 2017 and this has now been revalidated. The silver award is given to those employers who have signed the Armed Forces Covenant and have demonstrated and communicated supportive behaviour.
The Covenant states the nation’s commitment to serving armed forces personnel, veterans, and their families that they will not face disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of healthcare.
Nigel Lee, Interim Director of Strategy and Partnerships, is a veteran himself, having served in the RAF for 20 years.
He said: “Our Trust is proud of its Silver Employer Recognition Award. The region which we serve has a rich and proud military heritage and to this day wants to be recognised as a place where military people chose to live, work and be cared for into old age.
“As a major employer in the region, we recognise the added value employing Veterans and Reservists has to the Trust. With them comes the values and standards necessary to deliver high quality care to our patients.
“We therefore have a programme of work that strives to have our Trust recognised as a place where military people wish to work and develop, and where staff are supported to become Reservists if not already when first employed.”
He said that a strong alliance with the region’s Army Reserve Field Hospital had been developed. This had led to innovative recruitment strategies, which included bespoke opportunities for 202 Field Hospital’s Combat Medic Technicians and the recruitment of clinicians into roles with specialist interest in military medicine associated with incentives in support of recruitment into Reservist roles.
Other work also includes updating leaflets for patients and staff and introducing new nursing admission document checks, which are aimed at identifying military people accessing our services.
Mr Lee added: “Our aim over the coming years is to be awarded the gold Employer Recognition Scheme Award. To this aim we are establishing a Reservist and Veterans Forum which aims to provide mentorship of our military people and access to bespoke development opportunities. In addition, we aim to enter the Step into Health programme thereby building on successes already experienced through the recruitment of veterans.”
The silver award certificate presentation will be held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire in September.