Long-serving St Mary’s Hospital nurse Kris Warner has become the Isle of Wight NHS Trust’s 10th staff member to join the Army Reserves, marking a proud milestone for the organisation and reinforcing its support for colleagues in uniform.
Kris, who has worked at the hospital for over 24 years, has enlisted with the 243 Multi-Role Medical Regiment – 129 Detachment Cosham. He joins as a professionally qualified nurse, all while continuing his key role within the Emergency Department as National Major Trauma Registry and Trauma Coordinator.
In his NHS role, Kris works behind the scenes to improve patient care, clinical performance, and trauma outcomes. His daily duties include analysing complex trauma data, collaborating with multidisciplinary teams and the Wessex Trauma Network, and leading on peer reviews, training, and equipment upgrades.
Kris has said:
“I’ve always had a keen interest in the armed forces.
“Joining the Reserves is a way of fulfilling a lifelong ambition. The Army’s values and standards align closely with my own, and although it’s been a long process, I’m so proud to finally be part of it.”
As a Reservist, Kris will commit to 27 days of training each year, including a 2-week annual camp. The Isle of Wight NHS Trust supports this by offering an additional 2 weeks of paid leave specifically for military training, on top of standard annual leave.
Mandy Blackler, Veteran Aware Management Champion for the Trust, has said:
“Reservists like Kris bring a wealth of transferable skills back into the NHS – leadership, teamwork, resilience, and decision-making under pressure. We’re incredibly proud to support our reservist staff and value the strength they bring, both to their military service, and to our patients and teams here at the trust.”
Kris’s commitment to trauma care and national service highlights the dedication and ambition seen throughout the NHS workforce, as well as the benefits of supporting diverse career paths.
Well done Kris