As the nation prepares to mark Remembrance Sunday (9 November), NHS Lanarkshire and its two University Health and Social Care Partnerships are joining communities across the country in honouring the fallen – and recognising all who have served, past and present.
Across Lanarkshire, staff will reflect on the courage, sacrifice and enduring contribution of the Armed Forces community – from those who gave their lives in conflict to those who continue to serve today in the UK and overseas.
Claire Ritchie, NHS Lanarkshire’s Veterans’ Champion, said: “Remembrance Sunday is a time to come together in gratitude – to honour those who made the ultimate sacrifice and to recognise those who continue to serve our nation with quiet courage and commitment.
“Within NHS Lanarkshire, we are proud of our colleagues who have served in the Armed Forces. Their values of dedication, teamwork and resilience shine through in the care we deliver every day.”
Louise Long, Chief Executive of NHS Lanarkshire, said: “Remembrance Sunday reminds us of the courage, sacrifice and service of those who came before us – and of the values that continue to guide our own work today.
“At NHS Lanarkshire, we are proud to stand alongside our Armed Forces community. Their sense of duty, teamwork and resilience reflects the very principles that underpin how we care for the people of Lanarkshire every day.
“As we pause to remember, we do so with compassion, dignity and respect.”
NHS Lanarkshire is a signatory to the Armed Forces Covenant and a Gold Employer under the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme, reflecting the organisation’s ongoing commitment to fairness, inclusion and respect for serving personnel, veterans, reservists and their families.
Through the Covenant, NHS Lanarkshire and its Health and Social Care Partnerships ensure that no member of the Armed Forces community faces disadvantage in accessing healthcare, employment or support.
Specialist help for veterans is available through Veterans First Point (V1P) – a service co-designed by veterans, for veterans – offering access to psychological therapies, peer-led support and practical assistance. NHS Lanarkshire also works in partnership with the Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS), which provides emotional and practical support for veterans and their families navigating health and social care services.
All NHS Lanarkshire staff are invited to observe a two minute silence on Tuesday 11 November at 11am, where possible. The silence coincides with the time in 1918 at which the First World War came to an end and is observed at war memorials and in public places throughout the UK and Commonwealth.
