We are delighted that over 450 people were able to join our virtual QARANC Corps Sunday Service yesterday. If you missed it you can access it online now
Event Recording:
https://us02web.zoom.us/rec/share/CQofwA-DKaVNXR7HFeBpGdai0MWo2cg9zllW_Uc8usB2KYiQrU7lHyfFKKT-CVQh.rN3ilYPpb_t1o2_J
Access Passcode: !dk$RpQ0
Please note: Accessible for 30 days so closes on 26 April.
To mark International Nurses’ Day , The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duchess of Cornwall, The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, The Princess Royal, The Countess of Wessex and Princess Alexandra have joined together to pay tribute to the world’s nurses, speaking with healthcare professionals working in Australia, India, Malawi, Sierra Leone, Bahamas, Cyprus, Tanzania and the UK. You can watch the Video Here
The Queen will mark International Nurses’ Day today by speaking to Professor Kathleen McCourt, the President of the Commonwealth Nurses and Midwives Federation and Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing, of which The Queen is Patron.
The Prince of Wales has provided a message for the video thanking nurses across the world, and The Duchess of Cornwall has recorded messages of support for nurses from the Royal Naval Medical Service and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children Charity, of which she is respectively Commodore-in-Chief and Patron.
The Duchess of Cambridge and The Countess of Wessex spoke to nurses in seven different commonwealth countries. The calls were facilitated by Nursing Now, a global campaign to improve health by raising the status and profile of nursing of which The Duchess of Cambridge is Patron.
Their Royal Highnesses dialled into a call with nurses in Queensland, Australia who provide culturally appropriate services to local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and spoke to nurses at the Aberdeen Women’s Centre in Sierra Leone and LV Prasad Eye Institute in India – both of which The Countess of Wessex has previously visited. Their Royal Highnesses also spoke with the Apollo Hospital in India, HIV and maternal health nurses in Malawi, mental health nurses in the Bahamas, Army nurses in Cyprus, and paediatric nurses from the UK’s Evelina London Children’s Hospital and Community Services, of which The Duchess of Cambridge is Patron.
Over the weekend The Princess Royal called Tanzania to speak with the Programme Manager of a medical ship that provides facilities for those with little or no access to medical care, and is supported by the Vine Trust of which Her Royal Highness is Patron. Last week The Duke of Cambridge talked to nurses at The Royal Marsden, of which he is President and Princess Alexandra spoke with the head of the Naval Nursing Service in her role as Patron of Queen Alexandra's Royal Naval Nursing Service (QARNNS).
On the calls, Members of The Royal Family spoke with nurses about the work they are doing, with many talking about the impact of Covid-19 and how they were coping with the pandemic. Nurses and midwives are often the first and sometimes the only health professional that people see and the quality of their initial assessment, care and treatment is vital. They provide care that is sensitive to their local community – understanding its culture, strengths and vulnerabilities so can shape and deliver effective interventions to meet the needs of patients, families and communities.
On every call, The Royal Family reiterated their thanks to nurses across the Commonwealth for the incredible work they do on a daily basis.
CNO(A) recognises and thanks QARANC personnel for all their hard work on the occasion of International Nurses Day and the 200th anniversary of the birth of our founder Florence Nightingale.
It is during these unprecedented times that we all feel the need to reach out. As your Association we are here to offer as much support as we can.
If you are already affiliated to a Branch but have not managed to keep in touch then please do reach out to us. We would also like to hear from and offer support to those members that are part of our HQ Roll and are not currently members of a Branch.
Maybe now is the time to make that connection and become part of the QARANC Association Communities, reignite old friendships and make new ones. Whether you are HQ or a branch member, we are communicating in a variety of ways. Through our Facebook, email and telephone calls. If you feel that you might need our support and assistance at this time then please do get in touch.
We can either put you in touch with your local Branch or we can assist you through other means.
Sue McAteer (General Secretary):
gensec@qarancassociation.org.uk – 07546 519 061
Sarah Young (Charity Office Manager):
manager@qarancassociation.org.uk – 07895 366 299
Alison Roberts (Administrative Officer):
QARANC CORPS DAY 2020
As we remember and individually commemorate our 71st QARANC Corps Day, I had not envisaged writing to you all under the challenging and constrained circumstances in which we all find ourselves today. Firstly and most importantly, I would like to say a huge thank you for the way in which you have all without grumble or complaint, very quickly become immersed in the fight against COVID 19; whether delivering clinical care, IPC training, planning, managing your own studies and rejigging mindsets about training, assignments or leaving the services, or as many of our Association Branch Members are having to, managed your self-isolation. It has made me immensely proud to hear the very positive comments that I have heard from other military Branches and the civilian organisations about Regular and Reserve QAs. The public made their support of the NHS and emergency services very clear last night. HRH The Countess of Wessex has as you would imagine, our welfare deeply at heart.
None of us has ever faced such an event on such a large scale which impacts so directly on each and every one of us to such a huge effect both personally and professionally. I know many of you are anxious to do more and are frustrated by the lack of information or mixed messages. We have all read about, and seen what is happening at the Excel Centre. You will remember that when any event occurs for which a military response could be provided, a lot of scoping and planning work has to happen at pace before any decisions or offers are made. Please be patient, I cannot give you any answers today, your Chains of Command (for serving Regulars and Reserves) will keep you informed as they receive information. Many Branch members who have retired have also asked what they could do; you will have seen the pleas for volunteers to support the NHS; if you are able, it would be of great help to have your support. I know that Branch Chairs and secretaries have also set up a system for their members to keep in touch regularly with each other and those in their area who are in self-isolation.
If there is more the Association could do to support you, please get in touch with the QARANC RHQ so we can understand where there may be gaps where we can assist. Sue McAteer and her team are working from home with a reduced IT access, so responses may be slower; I’d be grateful if emails could go through the chain of command; via Branch Chairs or Secretaries to Sue’s team rather than from individuals, and from the serving Regular and Reserve QAs via the QARANC Chain of Command to Lt Col Debra Ritsperis or Lt Col Sharon Beatty.
I am aware that many of us are dealing with our own anxieties, whether it is worrying about our families and friends, our neighbours who may be self-isolating, or ensuring we can deliver the same high level of nursing care, or about nursing COVID 19 patients. Student nurses, those undergoing Nurse training under the Nursing Officer Transfer Scheme (NOTS) and those on post Registration specialist courses have had extra worry about their own training, you should by now all have been updated; the team are working hard to ensure there is as little disruption to training as possible although there will be some changes. We will keep you informed.
It has been disappointing over such a landmark year that we have not been able to mark it as we have planned, but I can reassure you that once we have returned to normal, we will most certainly have a large scale party to celebrate! To mark this year, please do take a photograph or note how you have individually remembered QARANC Corps Day 2020 so that we can collate it as a significant date in our history. We’ll send out information about where/how we can collate the information.
Having such a strong network of support is such a relief at a time like this; we have never needed each other’s friendship, support and care more than we do now; please keep strong, keep safe and keep in touch.
Sub cruce candida
With my very best wishes
Alison Farmer
Colonel AEB Farmer ARRC QHN | Commanding Officer 243 (Wessex) Field Hospital / Chief Nursing Officer (Army)
Major (Retd) Deidre Barr appointed as Director for NHS Nightingale
We are very proud that one of our Millbank Branch members, Major (Retired) Deirdre Barr has been appointed as Director of Operations for the NHS Nightingale Hospital which is being established at the Excel Centre in London. Staff will be coming together from the military, NHS and St. John Ambulance. With experience in all three organisations, Deirdre is perfectly placed to pull together a highly professional and dedicated team, including other QAs, both serving and retired, to deliver this project of national significance.
We know that all our members will be thinking of them and all NHS staff, including many Association members who work in the NHS or who have answered the call to help, as they embark on delivering this challenging task.
On the 1st of May 2020 I take up the appointment of Colonel Commandant QARANC. I feel both humbled and privileged. It is however a strange time, a time when we were planning the celebration of 200 years since the birth of Florence Nightingale at Westminster Abbey on the 12th of May and the WHO Year of the Nurse and Midwife. Clearly, these celebrations will have to wait as nurses of the Corps and colleagues across the world tackle the challenge at hand.
I would like to pay tribute to Colonel Jane Davis from whom I take over. Jane thank you for all you have done and I know will continue to do for the Corps. We did not get a chance to dine you out in March but we will when the time is right.
While I cannot be with you physically I can do something to raise awareness and hopefully some funds for the Corps in order to support members past and present. The Just Giving page is already set up and some of you have already given generously. www.justgiving.com/
Please all stay safe and keep up the awesome job of delivering for our patients and communities and remember the RHQ and your Colonels Commandant are here to support you. I very much look forward to meeting you all when the time is right.
Christmas Lunch, 5 December 20, Edinburgh
The Scottish Branch Christmas Lunch will be held at:
The Scotsman Hotel
North Bridge
Edinburgh
EH1 1TR
There will be lunch and a raffle.
Scottish Branch Annual General Meeting 30 October 20
Scottish Branch, AGM, Glasgow
Coffee Catch Up, 20 June 20
Please come and Join us for Coffee. We will be meeting at:
Cranachan
2nd Floor Princes Square
48 Buchanan Street
Galsgow
G1 3JN
Coffee will be served at 11am.
More...
The Royal Military School of Music, will be closing by the end of the Summer and consequently, our museum will be closing to the public whilst we find our new home. We have therefore decided to hold two Open Days on Friday 28th February (open to schools and the general public) and Saturday 29th February (open to all) 2020 from 11 am to 3 pm on both days.
You are cordially invited to join us on these days and we ask that you let us know when you would like to visit as we are conducting guided tours on the half-hour throughout the open period. You can take part in an online questionnaire which can be done without needing to post or email a return. https://www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/NPQB92V
The QARANC Association are keen to broaden their skills and recruit new people to strengthen the existing board and drive the Association forward.
The Association is seeking to appoint new trustees with experience and knowledge that can enhance the current Board. We are looking for individuals to join its Trustee board and be formally appointed as soon as practicable after the recruitment process is complete.
Time Commitment:
Four Board meetings per year, subcommittees as appropriate and any tasks between Board meetings that the role might require.
Location: The Charity is registered at Regimental HQ QARANC, AMS HQ, Robertson House, Slim Road, Camberley, Surrey, GU15 4NP. Board meetings are normally held in Camberley.
For those wishing to apply please e-mail Sarah Young, Office Manager, QARANC Association manager@qarancassociation.org.uk
COLONEL ALISON E B FARMER ARRC QHN
Colonel Alison Farmer enlisted into the QARANC as a student nurse in 1986 and after qualifying, became a specialist nurse initially in Gynaecology, then Family Planning and latterly in Public Health prior to commissioning from Senior Non-Commissioned Officer in 1998. She has had deployments as a soldier and officer; twice to the Balkans, to Afghanistan and twice to Mali. As a Corporal she was awarded the Associate of the Royal Red Cross in 1997 for her work during her second deployment to Bosnia.
Working in a variety of clinical roles, she was selected for an exchange attachment to the New Zealand Army for 4 months in 2000. From 2001, she undertook Regimental, Management and Staff roles. These included SO3 G1 Personnel at Headquarters 2nd Medical Brigade, Matron at the Medical Reception Station Seria in Brunei where she promoted to Major and returned to UK as SO2 QARANC Recruiting.
On completion of the Intermediate Command and Staff Course (Land) in 2008, she assumed Sub Unit Command at 4 Medical Regiment in Aldershot. Subsequent staff roles were as SO2 Medical Operations and Plans in Army Headquarters, SO2 Nursing for Director Army Nursing Services, followed by promotion to Lieutenant Colonel into SO1 Medical Plans at the Ministry of Defence as lead for the Future Reserve 20 programme for the Defence Medical Services.
Following a deployment as SO1 Joint Medical Plans within the European Union Training Mission in Mali, she returned to Headquarters 2nd Medical Brigade in 2015 as Chief of Staff of the Central Reserves Headquarters and Commanding Officer Brigade personnel. She then deployed back to Mali in 2017 as SO1 Joint Medical Plans. From deployment she returned to UK as SO1 Assessor at the Army Officer Selection Board in Westbury.
She was promoted to Colonel in April 2019 and is currently Commanding Officer of 243 (Wessex) Field Hospital with a secondary responsibility as AMS link for the Army Officer Selection Board and visiting Board Assessor. She assumed the appointment of Chief Nursing Officer (Army) in December 2019.
South Downs Branch Corps Day Celebration Fri 27 Mar 20
The Joint Hospital Group (South) invites South Downs Branch members of the QA Association to their Corps Day celebrations on Friday 27 March 2020.
Further details will be released in due course.
Branches
Back to the Map
A Career in Army Nursing
The QARANC employs Officers and Soldiers in both the Regular and Reserve Army, as Registered Nurses, Student Nurses, and Health Care Assistants, and we are always looking for people. If you are interested in a career as a Nurse or Health Care Assistant which also offers other great opportunities then you are just the person we are looking for. A career in the QARANC is more than a job, you will have access to extensive training and development opportunities, not just related to your job, but personal development too. You will have the opportunity to use your skills in diverse settings – wherever the Army is employed health care professionals from the QARANC are there. Right now there are QARANC personnel working around the world, including Sierra Leone, Canada, Mali, Afghanistan, Germany, and Cyprus. Being in the QARANC you will have access to, and be expected to undertake adventurous training, and you will have access to free medical and dental care, as well as robust annual leave and pension package. For information contact a member of the QARANC recruiting team on: 01276 412741, 01276 412742 or 01276 412740 or visit
Latest Content
- QARANC Corps Sunday Service in Association News
- The Royal Family pays tribute to nurses across the commonwealth. in Association News
- CNO(A) recognises and thanks QARANC personnel for all their hard work. in Association News
- The QARANC Association are still helping with benevolence cases. If you are facing financial hardship then take a look at how you can access our support. in Association News
- Corps Day Message from Chief Nursing Officer (ARMY) in Association News