Proud to be supporting the Armed Forces community

Off By Ed Hanna

In October, Black History Month saw individuals’ stories of diversity shared through the Proud to be, campaign.

Following up on the campaign, we spoke with NHS England and NHS Improvement Armed Forces Patient and Public Voice Group (AFPPV Group) Deputy Chair, Sue Liburd, MBE DL. Sue is an Army veteran who served for seven years in the Queen Alexandra’s Royal Army Nursing Corps.

Sue shares with Civvy Street how the group supports the NHS to better understand the specific needs of the Black, Asian and minority ethnic Armed Forces community and describes what ‘Proud to be’ means to her.

“I’m proud to be a daughter of a father that served in the RAF, a sister of a brother who served in the Royal Navy and a woman who has served in the Army. I am also proud to be a member of the Armed Forces Patient and Public Voice Group, helping to shape healthcare provision for all members of the Armed Forces community.

As a group, we are proactive in sharing lived experience expertise, including those drawn from the rich and diverse cultures found in the Black, Asian, Commonwealth and faith communities. It is widely recognised that negative stereotypes trigger discrimination and toxic stress on the part of the recipient. Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities face longstanding barriers with regard to economic, educational and social opportunities, which is why we ensure the voice of the underrepresented or minority is heard, together working to shape culturally inclusive healthcare commissioning.

The group regularly meets and works with NHS leaders, clinicians and staff to share its experiences of health care and to reflect on the experiences of the communities it represents. This is vital in helping to support improved health and wellbeing through a better understanding of the health needs of the Armed Forces community, particularly underrepresented minorities.”

Members of the AFPPV Group, represent the voices and lived experience of serving personnel (regulars and reservists), veterans and their family members.

The group works with and supports the NHS in England to help develop and improve health services in support of the commitments of the NHS Long Term Plan and Healthcare for the Armed Forces community: a forward view. Central to this, is ensuring the voice of patients and families is heard to help make services more accessible and considerate of the varied needs of the Armed Forces community.

To find out more about NHS services for the Armed Forces community, visit:
www.nhs.uk/armedforceshealth