Armed Forces Week: Celebrating and Supporting Our Armed Forces Community

It’s Armed Forces Week, and at Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, we’re proud to show our continued support for the Armed Forces community including veterans, reservists, and their families.

This week we share stories that highlight the unique contributions Armed Forces personnel make to our NHS, and how we in turn support them through career pathways, training, and recognition of their service.

For Reserves Day this week, we recognise the vital role that Reservists play in the UK Armed Forces, many of whom balance military duties with NHS careers.

One example is Dion, a Deputy Sister in our Emergency Department and an active Army Reservist in 203 (Welsh) Multi-Role Medical Regiment.

Dion said: “I take charge of the emergency unit. I’m often a senior support for the junior members of staff to help facilitate patient care in the emergency department.”

Alongside her NHS work, Dion works as a reservist, has taken part in overseas operations, and is currently pursuing a masters degree through the military.

“I get to do in the Reserves all the bits I absolutely love. I was away for seven months just before I joined. I’m in the process of hopefully becoming an officer.”

We’re proud to support colleagues like Dion with policies and tools to help manage dual careers.

This week, we were also proud to officially pledge to the Step into Health programme that opens new doors for veterans, service leavers and their families to explore NHS careers. By joining this initiative, we’re recognising the incredible value of military experience and helping build a more inclusive and diverse workforce.

Geraint, a Clinical Support Worker on our psychiatric intensive care unit in Newport and is a veteran who served in the Royal Navy before joining the NHS. His experience operating radar and sonar systems in the Gulf and Mediterranean instilled skills he now uses daily particularly resilience, empathy, and teamwork.

Geraint said: “Being at sea for long periods taught me to manage tough environments. It helped me understand how it feels to be away from home which gives me real empathy for the patients we care for on long stays.”

“There’s job satisfaction in the small things, like supporting someone to open a bank account, and also in the hard shifts where, as a team, you get through it safely. That sense of camaraderie is the same.”

The Health Board has also been recognised with Veteran Aware status through our accreditation with the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA). This also reflects our ongoing commitment to improving care for the Armed Forces community ensuring that veterans, reservists and their families are treated with understanding, compassion and respect.

We’re proud to be part of a health board that values the unique contributions of the Armed Forces community. Thank you to everyone who serves, in uniform and in our workforce.