Using qualities and skills from the army, Colin retrained as a physiotherapist
Nottinghamshire Healthcare has been a long supporter of the armed Forces community and recognise the valuable contribution, wealth of experience and skills that Armed Forces personnel and their families bring to the organisation.
The Trust re-signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2021 showing its commitment to ensure staff who serve or have served, and their families, are treated fairly. We also work in partnership with NHS Step into Health programme, which supports servicemen and women to access career opportunities working in the NHS. armed forces and their families including service leavers, reservists, veterans, Cadet Forces adult volunteers and spouses, partners and families of those serving. Read more about how we support our Armed Forces community.
Colin Palmer joined the army at 16 years old as an apprentice Engineering Surveyor and went on to serve a full career in the Corps of Royal Engineers.
Now a physiotherapist at the Trust, he shares his story about his life in the army and the NHS.
“At 16 I had a choice to join a local electronics engineering company, go to college or as I wanted to work outdoors, enlist.” explains Colin.
“I was very good at running and used my physical fitness to develop my military career. This included me becoming a military diver and benefitting on several promotion cadres where ability is often tested under physical fatigue. I also became a regular member of the Army athletics team captaining the cross country team to a first victory in 21years over the RAF. Along the way I also had the occasional overuse injury and so frequently made friends with the medical services and would often book myself into the physiotherapy clinics.” Now, whilst still benefitting from the Trust physiotherapy service for staff my athletic priorities are with officiating where I am a national graded timekeeper, recently having returned front the World Indoor Athletics Championships 2024 in Glasgow.
As a way of re-paying the debt of gratitude to his physiotherapy colleagues, Colin retrained on leaving the army and attended 3 years of night school and 3 years full time at the University of Nottingham to become a physiotherapist.
“My first physiotherapy role was in Adult Learning Disabilities with Leicester Partnerships NHS Trust before joining Nottinghamshire Healthcare on the Band 5 community rotations. These rotations culminated in applying for the static role with the Children’s and Specialist Services Directorate. I now work in the over 5s team optimising functional independence by addressing the physiotherapy needs of children with an underlying neurological condition (for example, Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Spina Bifida and more).
“When comparing the NHS with my work in the armed forces, I’d say the NHS is a big company and the delivery of services can take time. I was fortunate to work in small teams in the military so I can understand the importance of a clinician’s role in delivering care. I also have a relatively good understanding of policies and procedures within the moral compass of expectation.
The qualities and skills that I have transferred to my working life in the NHS include team working, patience, appropriate reactions to either a remain calm in stressful situations or take charge, all underpinned with self-discipline. I also must have a fair degree of loyalty as well in effect only having 3 employers through my career.
It’s fantastic that the Trust supports the Armed Forces community, and I was pleased to be invited to the Remembrance Day in November 2022.
If you are currently employed in the Armed Forces and interested in exploring future employment opportunities at the Trust, why not check out our vacancies.
For further information about careers in the NHS Working in health | Health Careers .
For further information about the NHS Employers’ Step into Health programme, visit the Transition into an NHS career | Step Into Health (militarystepintohealth.nhs.uk) or email staffengagement@nottshc.nhs.uk
