Celebrating Reserves' Day

Nurses from Guy’s and St Thomas’ celebrated Reserves’ Day on Wednesday 21 June, which recognises people who give up their time to serve as reservists in the Armed Forces.

Kayleigh Pierce, a practice development nurse in Southwark, is a reservist with the Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron. She says: “I’ve been trained to look after injured people as they are flown home. We’re all nurses at the end of the day. Being a reservist has given me lots of training. It means I’m much calmer and can deal with stressful situations. It’s also helped with career progression. Having ‘reservist’ on your CV really does give you an edge.”

Louise Dewsbury, a matron on the Paediatric Intensive Care Unit at Evelina London, has just completed the training to join the Army Reserves as a professionally qualified officer. She says: “At 52 years old, it was now or never, and it’s been fantastic so far.”

Dame Eileen Sills, Chief Nurse at Guy’s and St Thomas’, says: “We are extremely proud of our staff who have gone the extra mile and given up their time to support our Armed Forces as reservists. The skills and experience they gain benefit our patients enormously and I am pleased that we are able to recognise their contribution on Reserves Day.”

To find out more about becoming a reserve, contact Danielle Fullwood from the Step into Health programme on [email protected] or visit www.militarystepintohealth.nhs.uk.