A team of hardy healthcare care staff from Great Western Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust showed what they were made of last weekend when they took on the gruelling South West NHS Military Challenge.
The three-day event saw staff from hospitals across the region take part in a range of military exercises that were designed to push them to their physical, mental and emotional limits.
Held at the Dartmoor Training Arena, the challenge was an opportunity for different NHS teams to work together and build relationships in an environment that was a million miles from their usual clinical surroundings.
Leading the Great Western Warriors team in Devon was Annette Baskerville, Emergency Department Matron.
Speaking before the event, she said: “We are very excited, if a bit nervous in view of the weather forecast for the weekend, and are all so pleased to be representing the Trust at the event.
“The weekend is all about working together and it will be a great experience to work with staff from so many different departments.
“It’s also a great way to get involved with something different and learn more about the Armed Forces. We can’t wait to see what they have in store for us.”
The Great Western Warriors battled it in the rain against teams from 15 other NHS hospitals in a wide range of activities, such as rifle shooting and tackling a military obstacle course.
This year’s event was won by the team from Royal Cornwall Hospitals NHS Trust, with the Great Western Warriors finishing in tenth place.
The annual exercise was organised by 243 (Wessex) Field Hospital on behalf of Defence Medical Services and was supported by a wide range of army, navy, and Royal Auxiliary Air Force Volunteer Reservists from across the South West.
Visit www.facebook.com/GWHNHS to see more photos from the event
