Over the weekend of 16 to 18 June, bold teams from across the region took part in the annual inter-NHS challenge, Operation Medical Endeavour, which this year was held on Dartmoor.

The weekend is organised by the 243 Field Hospital and the Wessex Reserves. The challenges are based on teamwork, responsiveness, determination and leadership and included challenges such as pulling a Land Rover, extracting casualties under fire, planning a humanitarian rescue, crossing a ‘ravine’ with a stretcher, navigating an assault course – including monkey bars, a six-foot wall, balance at height and tunnels – building a radio transmitter with blinded and injured team members, survival and tracking techniques, tactical shooting range and a blind-folded minefield rescue – plus, the grand finale on Sunday morning, the gut-busting team stretcher run and body drag.

Once again the team from Salisbury Hospital secured a podium finish with a hard-earned Bronze Medal. The team was made up of staff from across the hospital, covering all ages and multiple professions.

Victoria Aldridge, team captain for Salisbury, said: “This was an awesome weekend spent with great people, pushing ourselves to solve problems and work together. It wasn’t a time for individual prowess, it was a time for developing as a team – and in our case learning to love some basic drill.

“We came together on Friday as strangers and left on Sunday as a team, and while the pain from the stretcher run was temporary, the pride we all feel is permanent.”