Goodbye MACA
In January, we welcomed colleagues from the army to our hospital. They provided support – known as military aid to the civil authorities (MACA) – to our hospital to help us manage winter pressures and the fourth wave of Covid-19.
As pressures begin to ease, the MACA team have now withdrawn from the hospital to return to their usual day job in the army.
Over the three weeks they were here, the team of ten provided a much appreciated helping hand in our wards. The soldiers provided non-clinical support during a period of high-demand for our services, coupled with a peak in Covid-19 cases and a high rate of staff absences due to the virus. From helping porters to supporting doctors and nurses in our emergency department and other wards, they were a real help across the hospital.
Reflecting on their time at Newham Hospital, Staff Sargent Steve Whyte said: “Working in Newham Hospital was a great experience for all of us.
“We’re used to a very different pace of work in our usual day-to-day job in the army. But despite the challenges of working in a fast-paced environment, we’ve really enjoyed our time here, and were really welcomed by everyone. We’ve got plenty of positive lessons and experiences to take away from our time here.”
Simon Ashton, acting chief executive for the hospital said: “We're so grateful to have had military personnel at the hospital to provide additional support to staff. This has been much appreciated by everyone, especially during such a challenging period.
“A big thank you to the team for their hard work and support over the past few weeks on behalf of everyone here at Newham Hospital.”
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