News

New Model of Care for local Armed Forces Community launched

The Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) is delighted to announce that the new Armed Forces Navigator Pilot Project has officially been launched on the 17 July 2017.

The pilot is being run in partnership with Birmingham Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust (BCHCFT), the Tavistock Institute and DMWS, and has been funded by the Forces in Mind Trust with the aims to better understand and support the health and social care needs of the Armed Forces community. The project will identify gaps in availability and accessibility of required services and raise awareness with local commissioners, to ensure there is appropriate consideration and planning into the future.

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New plaque pays tribute to victims of 1940 Blitz at Salford Royal

Today (27 July 2017) a new war memorial at Salford Royal was unveiled to commemorate the night that the hospital suffered fatalities during the Manchester Blitz of Christmas 1940. The Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) and the Ex Forces Action Network (EFAN), had come together to replace the memorial with a new, larger one to be sited in the gardens at Ladywell Building. Despite the terrible weather the unveiling of the memorial plaque took place in a very positive atmosphere and was a wonderful ceremony celebrating commitment.

So far a small memorial plaque near the A&E Entrance commemorated six members of staff who died when a German parachute mine hit the then Hope Hospital on 23 December 1940.

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DMWS is re-awarded MoD Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award

The Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) is delighted to hear that we have been re-awarded the MoD Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award. The Scheme acknowledges employers who have provided exceptional support to the Armed Forces community and defence by going above and beyond their covenant pledges and we are proud to be supporting those who serve.

The Scheme was launched in 2014 and DMWS was awarded Silver for outstanding support to armed forces personnel, veterans and reservists in the same year. The awards are reviewed every 3 years and we are very happy that our Silver has been revalidated in 2017.

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DMWS helps to reduce veteran’s social isolation

In recent years the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) has extended their person-centred medical welfare service to military veterans, a population which is growing and increasingly in need of our care. Our Welfare Officer, Karen Daniels, provides practical and emotional support to veterans aged 65+, who are receiving medical treatment at the Central Manchester University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CMFT) in Manchester.

A few weeks ago Karen met Mr Paddy Black, a 96 year old WW2 veteran at CMFT Manchester, where he attended as an outpatient 3x a week for blood transfusion.

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DMWS elected to Cobseo Executive

The Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) is delighted to have been elected to the Confederation of Service Charities (Cobseo) Executive alongside War Widows Association and the Poppy Factory. The results were announced during the Cobseo Annual General Meeting on Tuesday 11 July 2017.

Cobseo’s Chairman, General Sir John McColl, opened the Annual Meeting with a warm welcome. He reported on the past activities of the Confederation and gave an update on current issues concerning the members. He said: “The size and shape of the Armed Forces have undergone, and continue to undergo, radical alteration with further reviews round the corner.

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Veteran’s 75th Wedding Anniversary Surprise

The Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) organised for the wife of a 97 year old veteran to make a surprise visit to him in a Manchester hospital to celebrate their 75th wedding anniversary.

When DMWS Welfare Officer Karen Daniels met Mr Middleton for the first time in a Manchester Hospital in May 2017, he felt very low as he was missing his wife to whom he had been married for 75 years that month. The couple were hospitalised around the same time with health issues but had been living at home together independently prior to their admission.

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Charity CEO Nicky Murdoch recognised in Queen’s Birthday Honours

The Queen’s Birthday Honours list published on 16 June 2017, on the occasion of Her Majesty’s official 91st birthday, recognises the achievements of a wide range of extraordinary people right across the United Kingdom. This year, the St John and Red Cross Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) Chief Executive Nicky Murdoch is awarded an MBE for service to the Armed Forces Community and their families.

Nicky Murdoch completed a 30 year career in the Army where she specialised in personnel work. After her own battle with Breast Cancer in 2007, Nicky moved to the voluntary sector to utilise her skills, knowledge and awareness of the issues facing our Armed Forces when in hospital. She joined DMWS in 2011 to develop and expand the service.

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Fundraising starts small

(Andover, 8 June 2017) Owned and managed by Waitrose, the Longstock Park Water Garden near Andover in Hampshire is one of the finest water gardens in the world. It opens its gates to the public on selected dates in support of a nominated charity. We are very grateful to John Lewis Partnership to have chosen DMWS as the selected charity last Sunday.

With the garden attracting visitors from near and far, it provided a perfect opportunity to promote the Charity’s work to a wider audience.

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Afghanistan support

In light of recent events in Afghanistan, please find information and support resources here