International Women’s Day 2019 case study
I have been a CFAV for almost 8 years with Merseyside Army Cadet Force, during this time I have juggled studying at University and work life alongside attending detachment parade nights and county weekends and camps.
In 2015, I qualified as an adult nurse and began working at the Royal Liverpool Hospital on the Dialysis Unit. Thousands of people are affected by kidney disease and for many of these renal replacement therapy such as haemodialysis is their only way of survival while waiting for a kidney transplant, if they are eligible to be listed for one. Some patients choose to dialyse at home, and some in centre. Recently on the unit, I have been supporting patients becoming independent with their care through the #ShareHD programme. This enables patients to be completely independent with their treatment, or as independent as they wish to be, within the unit. This is ideal for patients who cannot or do not want to dialyse at home but will still have the flexibility to dialyse when they want to. Most patients are restricted to dialysing 3 times a week for around 4 hours on average.
Over Christmas I supported a couple of our patient ambassadors in running a bake sale and raffle. Many of the raffle prizes had been donated by fellow CFAV’s who own small businesses and the CFAV’s in my county where very supportive in buying raffle tickets and making cash donations. Due to this we raised over £1600! Currently, we are planning to have a charity summer ball to raise even more money for the project. Money raised will go towards equipment and furniture for patients to take ownership of their treatment.
It can often be difficult to juggle work life and cadet life due to working shifts, but having both my manager in work and my company commander so supportive over cadet activities make it both manageable and very enjoyable.
