Health boost for Britain's forces as new NHS programme launches
Veteran Aware
Thousands of veterans, serving personnel, reservists, and their families are to receive better healthcare in recognition of their service.
This major new NHS programme, backed by £1.8 million, will see NHS staff receive training to identify patients with armed forces backgrounds and provide more targeted, personalised care. GPs, doctors, nurses, therapists and managers will work with regional trainers to embed this support across the NHS.
Specialised care
Armed forces personnel, including veterans, serving personnel, reservists and their families, can require specialised care for physical injuries sustained in service, as well as mental health support for conditions like post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression.
Many veterans and their families also struggle to navigate civilian healthcare systems and may not self-identify as veterans to NHS staff, putting them at risk of missing out on the bespoke services that are already available.
Learn more with Gregg Stevenson MBE
Gregg Stevenson MBE is a former soldier and Paralympics champion who now works with the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) as a regional trainer for the north-west of England. He has witnessed the real-life impact of education and training for NHS staff caring for the armed forces community.
His story highlights how improved understanding of the unique needs of serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and their families enables NHS staff to deliver more inclusive, informed and compassionate care.
Louise Ansari, Chief Executive, Healthwatch England, said:
'Armed forces veterans and their families will welcome the news that they will get more personalised care from NHS services.
We hear from veterans who struggle to get the care they need because doctors and NHS staff aren’t familiar with their unique medical needs, often resulting from injuries, stresses or traumas that they experienced during their service years.
Training NHS staff to provide care that addresses the unique needs of veterans is a vital step towards ensuring those who served in our armed forces can live healthy and well in civilian life.'