Parkside is getting ready to celebrate Armed Forces Day!!! Posted or Updated on 17 Mar 2023

A Spotlight on our Veteran Staff

I'm Sandra Smith, an Advanced Nurse Practitioner at Parkside Medical Centre.

I joined the Royal Navy at the age of 18 to train as a Nurse. I qualified as a State Enrolled Nurse (QARNNS) and served 9 years within the service. During that time I spent 7 years at RNH Haslar in Gosport and 2 years at RNH Gilraltar. I gained a wealth of knowledge and experience moving at regular intervals between different clinical areas, this experience set my career as a nurse and I was sad to leave, none the less on leaving the service I converted to a state registered nurse, then advanced nurse practitioner. My time in the services will always be remembered and treasured.

I am Colin McClean, and I am the Clinical Operations Manager for the Surgical Centre, at Parkside Medical Centre.

I joined the Royal Air Force in 1986 and following basic training at Swinderby I trained for two years at RAF Halton and the three RAF Hospitals as an Operating Theatre Technician, now renamed and professionally registered as an Operating Department Practitioner (ODP). I served at RAF Hospital Ely, before being posted to Germany for four years I then continued to serve for a total of 26 years. I had several deployments, The Falklands, 2 to the former Yugoslavia, and the Persian Gulf. I completed my time with several tours of Cyprus which my wife and I loved. I miss my service every day and am proud to call myself a veteran and support all those who have served their country with pride.

I'm Sam, I am part of the administration team at Parkside Medical Centre.

I served 4 1/2 years serving the British Army. I joined the Queens Alexndra Royal Army Nursing Core (QARANC) based at Duchess of Kent Barracks. Once I qualified at Gosport Nursing College I was posted to Frimley Park Hospital in Aldershot in which I worked on both Medical and Orthopaedic wards caring for both military and civilians.

I'm Lisa Baldwin, the Practice Manager at Parkside Medical Centre.

I joined the Royal Air Force at the age of 17 in 1999 as a Dental Nurse. Following basic training (RAF Halton) and Trade training (Aldershot) I served at several RAF bases including RAF Coltishall, RAF Marham and RAF Cosford and undertook several deployments, including Akrotiri and Basrah, Iraq. I left the services in 2007 after 8 years. Since leaving the RAF I've had lots of experence working in the medical field both here and in the US, having been posted there with my husband (who retired after 22 years in the RAF last year). I loved my time in the military and would do it all again in a heartbeat!