This in from IW NHS Trust, in their own words. Ed
Surgeon Commander Mike Terry a Royal Navy general surgeon who operates at St Mary’s Hospital on the Isle of Wight deployed to Afghanistan this month to deliver life saving surgical treatment to military personnel.
The surgeon joined the Royal Navy in November 2000 after 18 years in the Royal Australian Navy Reserves and has previously worked in the National Health Service in Portsmouth, Plymouth, Oxford, Edinburgh, Margate and Lancaster. This well travelled Surgeon Commander has plenty of operational experience, having previously deployed 3 times to Iraq, taken part in medical support to Counter Piracy Operations, and served on the aircraft carriers ARK ROYAL, ILLUSTRIOUS, INVINCIBLE.
General surgeon at St Mary’s Hospital
On the Isle of Wight the Royal Navy doctor practices as one of five General Surgeons at St Mary’s Hospital and one of three Colorectal Surgeons. He also undertakes colonoscopy and gastroscopy, as well as covering all surgical emergencies on the Island.
Married to Leonie, his family are settled with two children at school locally. His mother-in-law has even followed the Navy family to the island! Surgeon Commander Terry is currently renovating an old cottage, but last year was frustrated by the weather which is slowing progress on his gardening!
Cmdr Terry: Privileged to be living on the Island
Surgeon Commander Terry said: “The Isle of Wight NHS Trust and especially my surgical colleagues at St Marys have supported my commitment to the defence of our country.” He added, “My family and I consider ourselves privileged to be living on the Island. We have developed close friends, the children are settled in their school and the climate and lifestyle are the best in the country.”
The Navy surgeon is one of 250 military personnel including doctors, nurses and allied health professionals at the Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit Portsmouth from all three Services; they work alongside their civilian colleagues at hospitals across the South Coast, predominantly Queen Alexandra Hospital, Cosham, treating civilian and military patients honing their skills to make them ready to deploy on operations around the world.
Colonel Hartington: “We look forward to his safe return”
Colonel Katherine Hartington Military Clinical Director at the Ministry of Defence Hospital Unit Portsmouth said: “Surgeon Commander Terry’s military experience and training allied with his continued professional development at St Mary’s will serve him well during his deployment and we look forward to his safe return.”
