Armed Forces recruitment at Barnsley Hospital

The NHS employs many staff from across the Armed Forces community. The Armed Forces community includes regular personnel, reservists, veterans, adult cadet force volunteers and families of regular personnel, reservists and veterans.

Armed Forces Covenant - Employer Recognition Scheme - Bronze Award
Two nurses stand next to each other. One wears a military uniform

Working in a team is a military ethos that we can bring to the NHS along with the ability to delegate and instruction/teaching skills.

Nigel Bullock, Lead for Acute Pain at Barnsley Hospital

The values held by members of the Armed Forces community closely align with the NHS ways of working and values, with particular emphasis on service, commitment and respect. At Barnsley Hospital we employ many people from across the Armed Forces community. We warmly welcome applications from serving and ex-personnel, and their relatives.  

Nigel Bullock is the hospital Lead for Acute Pain and also happens to be a Major in the British Army’s 212 Field Hospital (Yorkshire). Nigel said his work in the military has set him up well for his career in the NHS.  

“Knowing about strategic planning was invaluable in implementing an Acute Pain Service that had been absent for 10 years at Barnsley Hospital. We work under extreme pressure seeing up to 22 patients to assess, with Acute Pain in one shift. 

“Working in a team is a military ethos that we can bring to the NHS along with the ability to delegate and instruction/teaching skills.” 

The Armed Forces Covenant

Barnsley Hospital is signed up to and committed to the Armed Forces Covenant

“We, the undersigned, commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both Regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.” 

The first duty of Government is the defence of the realm. Our Armed Forces fulfil that responsibility on behalf of the Government, sacrificing some civilian freedoms, facing danger and, sometimes, suffering serious injury or death as a result of their duty. Families also play a vital role in supporting the operational effectiveness of our Armed Forces. In return, the whole nation has a moral obligation to the members of the Naval Service, the Army and the Royal Air Force, together with their families. They deserve our respect and support, and fair treatment. 

Those who serve in the Armed Forces, whether regular or Reserve, those who have served in the past, and their families, should face no disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services. Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved. 

This obligation involves the whole of society: it includes voluntary and charitable bodies, private organisations, and the actions of individuals in supporting the Armed Forces. Recognising those who have performed military duty unites the country and demonstrates the value of their contribution. This has no greater expression than in upholding this Covenant.

Since October 2023, Barnsley Hospital NHS Foundation Trust is a Veteran Aware accredited Trust - accredited by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance. The Veteran Aware plaque communicates to the public our commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant. Barnsley Hospital is recognised as being committed to providing the best care for, and support to, the armed forces’ community.

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Armed Forces Covenant - Employer Recognition Scheme - Bronze Award

Step Into Health: transition into an NHS career

Through Step into Health, members of the Armed Forces community can connect to NHS organisations to set up training opportunities, clinical and general work placements, insight days and receive application support. The programme provides a dedicated pathway to a career in the NHS. 

If you are interested in transitioning from a role in the armed forces into a career in healthcare, please take a look at the wealth of information available on the Step Into Health website

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  • Page last reviewed: 23 April 2024
  • Next review due: 16 November 2026