After a month on the front lines at Regina General Hospital, members of the Canadian Armed Forces return home – Regina | The Canadian News

With intensive care units overflowing and the fourth wave of COVID-19 in full effect, the arrival in early November of 15 members of the Canadian Armed Forces at Regina General Hospital could not have come at a better time.

The team included six intensive care nurses working in the intensive care units (four helping with the overflow in the medical care unit, two in the cardiac care unit), four general duty nursing officers joined with four medical technicians to support health care units and a senior nursing officer.

That senior nursing officer is Major Linda Jackson. She says the gratitude shown by the hospital staff was evident from the beginning.

“A nurse at the hospital said there was a day when she didn’t feel well and she didn’t feel guilty about calling in sick and taking care of herself because she knew we were there,” Jackson said.

0:52UCI military flight takes off from Saskatoon airport

The military unit was part of Operation Laser Saskatchewan.

After a day of training with local front-line personnel, the military nurses and medical technicians were in the ICUs the next day.

Initially, the team was looking to return home on November 19. That deadline came and went and the mission was not concluded until December 3.

Jackson explained that the departure date was re-evaluated after it was felt that Regina General staff could use their continued assistance.

“I think one of the main reasons we stayed was to keep raising morale, to let them know for a few more weeks that we would be with them in this ongoing fight, side by side.”

Typically, missions of this nature are related to supporting other Canadian Armed Forces in their health care efforts.

Jackson stressed that it was an honor and privilege to help other Canadians and healthcare professionals. For her, these front-line healthcare professionals are the real stars.

“They are the true heroes of this story. We felt that way from day one and we felt it when we left. We simply have the greatest admiration and respect for the staff and the community. “