Key worker couple: a husband and wife on the frontlines of the Coronavirus response
British Army Captain Dominic and Hannah Noone, a final year medical student, have been married for three years and have both seen their careers change overnight to support Coronavirus efforts. How are they dealing with their new lifestyle?
Since the start of the lockdown, British Army Captain Dominic Noone, 31, has swapped his barracks-based office in Stafford for the comfort of the family quarters home he shares with Hannah, his wife of three and a half years.
Meanwhile Hannah, 29, has been fast tracked from university to begin her medical career at the George Eliot Hospital NHS Trust, near Coventry. This is part of plans to boost doctor numbers during the crisis.
But while the locations have changed, their jobs have never been closer — as 16th Signal Regiment where 31 year old Dominic works as Adjutant has now been stood up to help the NHS as part of the UK Armed Forces’ Covid Support Force.
Speaking of the sudden change, Hannah says:
“It’s really nice to be so closely involved in our work together. It’s probably the closest our roles have been related.”
Dominic says:
“The main thing the Army has focused on is being a supportive role to the NHS. We use our logistic abilities, our manpower resources and our experience, to support the NHS wherever it’s required.”
Regarding working from home, Captain Nooone says:
“We have had some early starts and late finishes, but simple things like making sure we have dinner together — whether that’s 9 o’clock at night, it’s still worth doing. Because you both switch off and reflect on the day.”
Hannah said she was adapting to her new life at the hospital and embracing the opportunity to kick-start her medical career early:
“I’m proud to be useful at a time of national need… I want to rise to the challenge and be part of a new cohort of junior doctors moulded in the face of adversity.”
She has also taken part in the weekly #ClapForCarers events from her home behind the wire at Beacon Barracks in Stafford, adding:
“We live behind the wire on a really small patch so I wasn’t expecting so much noise — we can definitely hear the community spirit! It’s a great morale booster for everyone taking part.”
