A newly appointed specialist nurse in the North East of England is pioneering the provision of more personalised patient care for her local armed forces community.
A former British Army nurse, Hannah Robertson, has recently been appointed as a Help for Heroes nurse at the University Hospitals Tees group.
“Not all people need my help, some just like to have a chat and tell me about their military careers”
Hannah Robertson
North Tees and Hartlepool NHS Foundation Trust and South Tees Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust formally agreed to work closely together and form the group, short of a merger, in February 2024.
Ms Robertson will provide specialist clinical support and advice to the local armed forces community which includes those, and their immediate family members, who are currently serving or retired veterans.
Her role, which is fully funded by Help for Heroes, was created after the charity identified a gap in support for the armed forces community, with many finding it difficult to engage with services.
Due to injuries and other conditions from their time in service, they can often need additional support during treatment and after-care, noted Ms Robertson.
She previously served in the Queen Alexandra Royal Army Nursing Corps for 14 years and worked as a clinical sister on the intensive care ward at the trust’s James Cook University Hospital.
Through her new role, Ms Robertson is now working across University Hospitals Tees, which is a fully accredited ‘veteran aware’ organisation, to act as a liaison between healthcare services.
Using her experience, she helps members of the armed forces community navigate care and support for their individual needs, while supporting colleagues with training, guidance and resources.
She also provides continuity of care for members of the armed forces community transitioning from military to civilian healthcare services.
Ms Robertson has only been in the role a few weeks, but the former army nurse said she was already making a positive impact on the armed forces community.
She said: “I have already been to visit several veterans who have all been so welcoming and keen to talk and share stories.
“Not all people need my help, some just like to have a chat and tell me about their military careers. But for those who do find themselves in the position of needing extra support, it’s been an honour to be able to co-ordinate their care and be an advocate.
“It’s been great to see the positive impact this specialist role is already having on the armed forces community, and I look forward to developing the role further,” she said.
Stuart Irvine, the trust group director of risk, assurance and compliance said: “We are delighted to welcome Hannah into post as our dedicated Help for Heroes nurse.
“Having worked in both military and healthcare settings, Hannah has a wealth of experience and a real passion for helping others, that makes her the perfect fit for coordinating personalised patient care for our armed forces community.”
