I am an Anaesthetic ST3 trainee within the HEEoE deanery. For the last 6 years I have also been an Army Reservist with 254 Medical Regiment, based in Cambridge. Through the army, and with the assistance of the deanery, over the last 6 years I have completed a plethora of courses, deployments, qualifications and an operational tour.
Overall, I have had truly incredible training and experiences with the Army. I am convinced I am a better anaesthetist (and human!) for these experiences; and am delighted that the NHS can benefit from my extra experiences and training for all but 28 days each year.
I have completed lots of medical courses through, and paid for, by the Army. I have done MIMMS (Major Incident Medical Management), MPHEC (Military Pre-Hospital Emergency Care), advanced clinical CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear) and ALS (Advanced Life Support). I also teach on BATLS (Battlfield Advanced Trauma Life Support) several times a year. I have also been lucky enough to receive funding for additional qualifications. I completed my Post Graduate Certificate in Medical Education, and a Diploma in Leadership and Management. I am currently studying for my Diploma in Immediate Medical Care and Diploma in Medical Care of Catastrophies.
I have been very lucky to deploy with the Army on several occasions. I have spent 6 weeks doing medical cover in Kenya, another 6 weeks doing medical cover in the Jungle in Belize (both during a non-training year), short term training team deployments (whilst in training) for a couple of weeks each to Croatia and Kosovo, an academic presentation at NATO HQ in Brussels, and am currently on an Out-of Programme Experience (OOPE) year to deploy to Afghanistan. Additionally, I have undertaken a number of sporting opportunities, including white water rafting in Kenya, snorkelling in Belize, skydiving, mountain biking, kayaking and paddle boarding.HEEoE have been excellent in recognising and facilitating military service. I did my core training in another deanery, where the Training Programme Director wouldn’t release me for an operational tour until atleast ST6. HEEoE seem very pro-reservist and have policies to substantiate this, including an extra two weeks leave each year and facilitating operational deployments and requirements.
As a reservist, I am required to commit 28 days a year to the Army. 16 of those 28 days are usually as an Annual Continuous Training (2-week camp) which the deanery very kindly gives Trainees as service leave (in addition to usual annual leave and study leave etc) without detriment to their ARCP. That leaves 12 days a year which I make up between weekends, courses and weekly drill evenings