Today is Reserves Day (Wednesday 25 June), and we want to introduce you to Assistant Psychologist Daniel Petho.
Based at Chorley Hospital, he is also a Lance Corporal in The Queen's Own Yeomanry.
We are a Veteran Aware Trust and are committed to implementing the guiding principles of the Armed Forces Covenant, which means Daniel is given two weeks special public duties leave each year.
Last year he used the leave to take part in the first Reservist Brigade exercise abroad since the Cold War and took part in a NATO exercise in Germany. In the past he’s taken part in training and exercises in Oman.
This year, Trafford Council asked for a member of The Queen's Own Yeomanry to support an Armed Forces Day flag bearing ceremony. The Trust supported Daniel to attend and on Monday he played an integral part in raising the flag ahead of Armed Forces Day.
Daniel said:
"It was an honour to support the local councils in their recognition of Armed Forces Day and the week. It strives to bring the public awareness of the duties and sacrifices members of the Armed Forces commit to in supporting the nation. Churchill was once noted as stating: 'the reservist is twice the citizen', this is something I hold deep in my dual military and NHS duties."
As a Trust we have a Gold Award as part of the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme in recognition of our efforts to support the armed forces community, ex-armed forces, reservists, and their families into work in the NHS and fostering a welcoming environment.
Our MAPPA (Multi-Agency Public Protection Arrangements), Victims and Veterans (MVV) Team authored our Trust Armed Forces Holistic Health Policy and support veterans that work for us, our patients and veterans across Lancashire and South Cumbria. The team signposts to services like Op COURAGE, an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families.
Find out more about our Military Veterans' Service for Lancashire.
