The keynote speeches at this year’s Healthcare Estates conference, which was themed ‘Putting positive energy into healthcare’.
Included a rousing address by former Welsh Guardsman, and Falklands War veteran, Simon Weston, describing his extraordinary recovery after suffering extensive burns when his troop ship was hit by an Argentinian bomb in June 1982, as well three estates and facilities-orientated presentations from senior sector players, on topics ranging from public sector energy procurement, to how those English NHS Trusts still seeking Foundation Trust status can ‘raise the bar’ sufficiently to achieve this. HEJ editor, Jonathan Baillie reports.
After a short opening address from Greg Markham, welcoming delegates to an annual conference and exhibition taking place in the Institute’s 70th Anniversary year, the IHEEM President introduced the first morning’s keynote speaker, Falklands War veteran, Simon Weston OBE. The former solider got the conference off to a rousing start by describing his personal road to recovery after his ship, the RFA Sir Galahad, was hit by an Argentinian bomb in Bluff Cove, just off the Falkland Islands, in June 1982; he suffered 46 per cent burns. In a presentation entitled ‘Walking Tall’, the former Welsh Guardsman also touched on his subsequent emotional meeting, some years later, with the Argentinian pilot who had dropped the bomb; the pair subsequently became good friends.
Single-minded determination
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