“I learned to walk again and now I want to help other veterans stand tall too,” is the powerful statement from a veteran who is using his experiences for the benefit of others.
James Spink rebuilt his life after a devastating battlefield injury and is now hoping to transform how A&E departments identify, treat and support fellow former soldiers.
As an advanced care practitioner in Northwick Park Hospital’s A&E department, he is launching a quality improvement project as part of his master’s degree. His mission is to give veterans the focused care they often struggle to access.
Speaking to Pinnernews, he said: “The idea is to set up a dedicated clinic where we can focus solely on veterans. There are a lot of us out there.”
James knows exactly how life-changing the right support can be. He served in Kosovo at just 18 before completing two tours of Afghanistan.
He said: “It all seems very exciting until things go wrong and people start getting hurt.”
The reality of war came crashing down when an IED detonated under his vehicle, breaking his back.
Seventeen gruelling months of rehabilitation followed before James was able to walk again with the help of a computerised leg brace.
James went on to build a remarkable career, serving as a paramedic, working on Medivac flights bringing critically ill patients back to the UK, and later supporting others in the same rehab unit where he once learned to walk.
Since joining Northwick Park two years ago, he says he has found a new family.
He added: “Everyone has been very supportive… I want other veterans to get the same sort of support.”
0 Comments