Supporting staff, service users and patients as a Veteran Aware Trust

What does this mean for We are proud to be a Veteran Aware Trust,  this means that we have been accredited from the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), this is the acknowledgment of our commitment to a number of key pledges including:

• Training relevant staff on veteran specific culture or needs
• Ensuring that the armed forces community is never disadvantaged compared to other patients, in line with the NHS’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant
• Providing information to ensure that veterans, reservist and service families are aware of appropriate charities or NHS services beneficial to them. For example mental health services or support with financial and/or benefit claims
• Supporting the armed forces as an employer.

Please let us know if you or your spouse/partner have ever served in the UK armed forces so that we can best support your care needs.

Being flagged as a veteran in your NHS medical notes will help ensure you are able to access specific veterans’ health services, such as those for mental health, hearing loss, limb amputation and wheelchairs. All veterans are entitled to priority access to NHS care (including hospital, primary or community care) for conditions associated with their time in the armed forces (service-related). Please note this is always subject to clinical need and will not entitle you to be prioritised ahead of someone with a greater clinical need.