QARANC CORPS DAY 2020

As we remember and individually commemorate our 71^st 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)

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/fundraising/kevin-davies39  Colonel on a Cross Trainer 10 in 10 is my challenge to do at least 10K a day for 10 days. While I am not Capt/Col Tom I do have a bus pass! I will also add £50 on the finish day of 10th May for the first person who has guessed my age in years and days. I will give clues along the way. The bus pass is the first clue, more to follow.

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.