Published on: 2nd November 2016
The Trust has underlined its continued support to those who serve our country by signing up to the prestigious Armed Forces Covenant.
LPFT was invited by the Ministry of Defence to formally sign the document to further cement its commitment to forces families across the county.
The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation to ensure that those who serve or have served in the Armed Forces, and their families, are treated fairly and with respect and receive the same access to services as any other citizen.
The signing comes just weeks after it was announced that LPFT had been awarded a Bronze Defence Employer Recognition Scheme award, for demonstrating the values of the Covenant and supporting its own Army Reservist employees.
Trust Chair, Paul Devlin, said he was absolutely delighted to put his name to the official documentation.
We value the contribution of reservists, veterans and their families to our workforce and we’re proud to provide care for active personnel. We must ensure that we continue to offer the right support at the right time for those in the Armed Forces community, whenever they may need our services.
As well as employing Armed Forces Reservists, LPFT also has a dedicated Veterans’ Mental Health Service, which offers specific care and treatment and a point of contact for forces personnel who may be experiencing mental health problems.
The Trust also has a designated hospital inpatient facility – the Jubilee Suite at Boston’s Pilgrim Hospital - for members of the Armed Forces.
Colonel Niall MacDougall TD, Assistant Commander of the Grantham-based 102 Logistic Brigade said:
The Covenant is a national responsibility involving government, business, local authorities, charities and the public. We’re delighted that LPFT has pledged to support those who have served or are currently serving in the Armed Forces. The covenant will build on strong ties already established between the Trust and the Armed Forces, particularly in terms of the flexibility it has shown towards its reservist employees in recent times.
In addition to the formal signing of the Covenant, Paul Devlin recently attended RAF Coningsby's Air Combat Power event, which was organised to showcase the RAF's commitment to reservists and the benefits of the skills and attributes that reservist employees take back into the civilian workplace as a result of their military training.
The event included a guided tour of the usually off-limits areas of the base, as well as a chance to see a number of aircraft and other equipment used on military operations around the world.
Paul said he thoroughly enjoyed seeing first hand some of the work of the men and women in our Armed Forces:
As Chair of LPFT it is importnat I learn what I can about the Armed Forces. It was a loud, instructive and rewarding day.
