Is your NHS Hospital Trust Veteran Aware?

Off By Ed Hanna

When you leave the Armed Forces you will want to know that if you need to go to hospital, your experiences of serving in the Armed Forces will be taken into account. This is where the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) and its Veteran Aware scheme comes in.

What is Veteran Aware?

The VCHA is a group of NHS hospitals and services in England that have agreed to lead by example and model the best care and support to the Armed Forces community.

Any NHS hospital or service provider in England can apply to become Veteran Aware, with over 123 (around 60%) already accredited. Private care providers, such as residential and care homes, are also invited to become Veteran Aware and there is a separate scheme for GPs, run by the Royal College of General Practitioners, for practices to become veteran friendly.

The process of becoming Veteran Aware is straightforward. Hospitals and services need to meet the following standards:

• setting up links with nearby veteran services and refer to them when needed,

• raising staff awareness of the Armed Forces Covenant,

• having a dedicated veterans’ champion,

• ensure staff are trained in the needs of veterans,

• supporting the UK Armed Forces as an employer and

• making sure veterans are identified so they receive appropriate care.

VCHA team lead Lt Col (Retd) Guy Benson says: “Those who have served are owed a debt of gratitude for the service they have given the nation.

“This isn’t about queue jumping NHS waiting lists. It’s about making sure that those patients who serve, currently, or who have served in the military, as well as service families, receive personalised care, which we know improves patient outcomes.”

Veteran Aware services recognise that those who have served in the Armed Forces may have needs that differ from the rest of the population. If those people can be identified early and referred to the right service quickly, not only do they have an improved experience of care, but it also frees up clinician time or beds for other patients.

Cropped shot of a army doctor speaking video conferencing on computer using online video call consultation app. Remote medical help for distance patient, telemedicine.

How can I find out if my local hospital is Veteran Aware?
You can check if your trust is Veteran Aware by visiting www.veteranaware.nhs.uk/veteran-aware-accreditation
You may also find the purple Veteran Aware logo on their website and printed leaflets.
If your local trust isn’t Veteran Aware, then ask if they have an Armed Forces champion and point them towards the VCHA Team (details below); the chances are we are already in discussion with them.

For further details visit: veteranaware.nhs.uk or follow us on Twitter @NHSVeteranAware. If your trust doesn’t have an Armed Forces Champion, they can email the VCHA team at rnoh.vcha@nhs.net.