Supporting the armed forces community
We are proud to be a Veteran Aware Trust
St George’s NHS Trust has been named a Veteran Aware Trust in recognition of its commitment to improving NHS care for veterans, reservists, members of the armed forces and their families.
The accreditation, from the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), acknowledges the Trust’s commitment to a number of key pledges, including:
- 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
- Training relevant staff on veteran specific culture or needs
- Making veterans, reservists and service families aware of appropriate charities or NHS services beneficial to them, such as mental health services or support with financial and/or benefit claims
- -Supporting the armed forces as an employer
Please tell us if you or your spouse/partner, parent or sibling have ever served in the UK armed forces so 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). But this is always subject to clinical need and doesn’t entitle you to jump the queue ahead of someone with a higher clinical need.
Who is a veteran?
A veteran is anyone who has served for at least one day in the armed forces, whether regular or reserve. This also applies to Merchant Navy seafarers and fishermen who have served in a vessel when it was being used for military operations by the armed forces.
For more information on how the NHS can help if you’re in the British armed forces or are a veteran, a reservist or a family member of someone who is serving or who has served visit NHS England – www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/
NHS services
Op Courage
Informed by feedback from veterans and their families, all NHS specialist veterans mental health services will now come under one new name – Op COURAGE: The Veterans’ Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.
Website: https://www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-community/mental-health/veterans-reservists/
Veterans Trauma Network (VTN)
The VTN is a collection of 12 NHS Veteran Trauma Centres and four specialist units, each with military and civilian medical experts who will be able to help you with your physical service-related health problem. They will work with you to develop the best clinical plan for your needs.
Download the VTN Overview for further details.
Ask your GP to refer you to the VTN at england.veteranstraumanetwork@nhs.net
There are a number of supporting organisations that can help with a variety of needs that are based nationally and locally.
Further supporting organisations
Forces Connect App
In as little as just four clicks, the Forces Connect free mobile app can signpost veterans, armed forces personnel and their loved ones to support and advice in their local area. The Forces Connect app is designed to link users in four easy clicks to organisations offering immediate help and support across a wide range of services. The information is updated monthly, there are no charges or adverts and there’s no need to enter any personal data.
To download the app, search “Forces Connect” in Apple’s App Store or the Google Play Store.
SSAFA
SSAFA provides lifelong support for veterans and their families.
Trained SSAFA volunteers can provide practical, emotional and financial support if and when veterans need it, via a network of local branches which means that help and advice is always close at hand.
Website: www.ssafa.org.uk
Telephone: 0800 731 4880
Royal British Legion
RBL provides lifelong support for members of the Royal Navy, British Army, Royal Air Force and their families. Key services include household repairs, care homes, financial advice, dementia care, hearing loss and tinnitus services, mobility equipment support and much more.
Website:www.rbl.org.uk
Telephone: 0808 802 8080
Help For Heroes
Help For Heroes help veterans, and those still serving, by providing physical, psychological, financial and welfare support for as long as they need it. They also support families, because they too can be affected by their loved one’s wounds.
Website: www.helpforheroes.org.uk
Telephone: 0198 0844 388
Blesma
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the use of a limb, an eye or loss of sight in the honourable service of our country.
Website: www.blesma.org
Telephone: 020 8590 1124
Fusiliers vs Suicide
Website set up by a group of British Army veterans who have served on the frontline with The Royal Regiment of Fusiliers to raise awareness, educate and equip in suicide intervention skills, in order to defeat the enemy: suicide and save lives.
Website: https://fusiliers-vs-suicide.org
The Ripple Pond
Supporting adult family members of physically or psychologically injured British Armed Forces personnel and veterans. Their peer support service will connect you with a network of Forces families, who’ll offer you genuine support and understanding. They also work collaboratively with many other organisations and charities, and have a range of trusted parties that they can signpost you to for specific military family support services.
Website: www.theripplepond.org
Telephone: 0333 900 1028
All Call Signs
All Call Signs is an award-winning peer support network for veterans, serving military personnel and their families. Too many veterans, service personnel and family members have nowhere to turn to when life gets tough. All Call Signs is changing that, one conversation at a time. Join a platform purpose-built to support the UK’s military community through bad times and good.
Website: allcallsigns.org
Telephone: 023 9438 7914
Surrey County Council
Surrey County Council offer a wealth of support to the armed forces community, including wellbeing hubs and activities ranging from model making and archery to breakfast clubs.
Website: www.surreycc.gov.uk/community/armed-forces
Email: tracey.morris@surreycc.gov.uk
Phone: 07790 585 352
Fishing For Heroes
Fishing For Heroes is a nationwide charity based in the midlands with the aim of helping forces personnel who are suffering from emotional issues after the horrors of active service by providing fly fishing instruction.
Website: www.fishingforheroes.com
Telephone: 01332 667 966
Veterans In Community
Veterans in Communities (VIC) is an East Lancashire based Armed Forces charity supporting former ex-service men and women who have served in any of the branches of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Marines, Royal Air Force, the emergency services (Blue Light) and their families.
The VIC art group is now a well established form of relaxation therapy and they are looking at running virtual art classes, which were popular during the recent COVID-19 lockdowns. If you are interested in attending a virtual art class please contact Darren Horsnell at darrenhorsnell@vic.org.uk or call 01706 833180 for more information.
Website: www.veteransincommunities.org/art-group
Haig Housing Trust
Haig Housing is proud to have served the British Veteran community for over 100 years. As the leading housing provider for ex-Service personnel in the UK, the charity now owns over 1,500 properties across 50 locations.
The Trust endeavours to help eligible Veterans in housing need, whether they are transitioning into civilian life or are simply in need of a helping hand.
Website: www.haighousing.org.uk/
Email: enquiries@haighousing.org.uk
Telephone: 020 8685 5777 (option 4)
