Armed forces personnel who gave their support to Stepping Hill Hospital over the winter months have been given a warm note of thanks from leaders and colleagues.
Chief Nurse Nic Firth personally thanked soldiers from the Scots Guards during a short ceremony at the hospital’s training and education centre.
Army and Navy personnel had been stationed to at hospitals across Greater Manchester to give support during the winter months. Staff sickness and isolation due to COVID-19 contributed towards the immense challenges which both hospital and community NHS teams were facing over the period.
11 members of the Scots Guards arrived on site in early January to provide relief with portering duties, van driving, transporting equipment, and helping out on the ward along with other tasks. They were welcomed by health service colleagues across the hospital during busy times.
The guards will soon be returning to their normal duties, and were receiving their thanks before they left. They in turn showed their gratitude to all staff at Stockport NHS Foundation Trust for their efforts during the pandemic as they handed over an official commendation on behalf of the regiment.
Chief Nurse Nic Firth said “The Scots Guards have been a wonderful and much welcomed source of support during a very challenging winter. During a fairly short space of time they have become valued colleagues and a real part of the team; and we’ll be sad to see them go. We’d like to say a huge thanks to them for the help they’ve given us and all our hospital colleagues across Greater Manchester, and wish them all the best for the future.”
