Former Royal Navy Member Identifies Operational Similarities Between Warships and Operating Theatres

Alex Oliver, who transitioned from the Royal Navy to work at London’s Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, asserts, “Without a doubt I find that the communication is very similar in the operating theatre and a place like a warship.” Mr. Oliver served 12 years in the Navy, having enlisted at the age of 17. During his tenure, he was deployed to 56 countries and territories globally. He made the decision to pursue a different career path after getting married. He explained, “I’d always had an interest in science and we trained as Level 3 first aiders in the Navy.” He initially considered a career in nursing, undertaking a year of nursing studies at King’s College Hospital. He recalled a pivotal moment during a visit to the operating theatres at Guy’s Hospital: “One day I went to the operating theatres at Guy’s Hospital, and I thought, ‘wow’. This is a completely different atmosphere. It’s more dynamic and more suited to environments I’d been to in the past.” Mr. Oliver is currently employed as an operating department practitioner, a qualification he attained after completing a three-year operating department practice degree. He noted that, much like a military establishment, a hospital also has a set of daily objectives that must be met. Mr. Oliver stated, “Each person has a fundamental role, or they wouldn’t be there.” He further elaborated, “Because of the pace, you have to be direct, you have to have confidence in your team and in your own skills.” He also highlighted the necessity of quickly building rapport to reassure individuals, particularly in a diverse city like London, adding, “You also need to build a rapport quickly to put people at ease, especially in a place as diverse as London. For the patient, it’s one of the biggest, most important days of their lives potentially.” Each year, at least 12,000 military personnel depart from their roles in the armed forces for various reasons. Many seek new career opportunities upon completing their service. Guy’s and St Thomas’ is collaborating with NHS England and several universities to recruit active and retired armed forces personnel, along with their families, into 14 allied health professions. These 14 roles encompass positions such as occupational therapists, paramedics, dietitians, and operating department practitioners. Fiona Sandford, a consultant physiotherapist and clinical lead of Armed Forces at Guy’s and St Thomas’, commented, “As an Armed Forces spouse I know the resilience, adaptability and dedication of the Armed Forces community. These are just the transferable skills we are looking for in the NHS.” BBC Radio London content is available on Sounds, and updates can be followed on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story submissions can be sent to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk. This material is copyrighted by BBC in 2024, with all rights reserved. The BBC states it is not accountable for the content of external sites and provides information regarding its external linking policy.