Armed forces and veterans

Supporting the Armed Forces

Wye Valley NHS Trust is proud to support our Armed Forces and to have received the prestigious Employer Recognition Silver Award from the Ministry of Defence in 2021. More information about this Award is detailed on this page. 

Our colleagues who have previously served in the Armed Forces are an asset to the Trust. They bring a wealth of experience and knowledge which is invaluable.

As part of the Armed Forces Covenant, we are committed to supporting our employees and future employees from the Armed Forces, and reservists.

Supporting our staff

We support current employees who are from service families or are part of the reservists, and potential employees who are currently serving or have just completed their service and are looking forward to their next career. 

Through the Armed Forces Covenant the Trust has made pledges to all military personnel (including veterans) regarding access to its services and employment.

Wye Valley NHS Trust receives prestigious Silver Award from Ministry of Defence

Wye Valley NHS Trust has been recognised by the Ministry of Defence Awards for its support to the Armed Forces community. The Trust is one of the organisations across the West Midlands that has achieved the prestigious Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award for 2021.

This Ministry of Defence award given by the West Midland Reserve Forces & Cadets Association (RFCA) recognises companies and organisations for their support to the Armed Forces community, including Reservists, veterans, spouses, Cadet Forces Adult Volunteers and cadets.

Silver award holders must demonstrate a number of positive measures and policies in their organisations, which actively support members of the Armed Forces community. The silver status requires employers to ensure:
· That members of the forces community are not disadvantaged in their recruitment and selection process
· That all positive policies relating to defence personnel are internally publicised
· That they employ at least one individual from the armed forces category that their nomination emphasises
· If required, that they have demonstrated support to Reservist mobilisations · That they align their values with their Armed Forces Covenant.

Supporting patients

Please let a member of staff 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).  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.

Improving care for veterans across the NHS

We are seeking to gain accreditation as a member of the Veterans Covenant Hospital Alliance, sharing and driving best practice in NHS care for people who serve or have served in the UK armed forces and their families, in line with the Armed Forces Covenant.

What you can expect in this hospital

• We support the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant.
• We are committed to ensuring no disadvantage and giving special consideration where appropriate.
• We will have educated and trained all relevant staff to identify and respond to veterans’ needs, signposting them to local support services, some of which are listed below.
• We also support the UK armed forces community as an employer.
  
  

Defence Medical Welfare Service

The Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS) provides independent and confidential medical welfare services (psychosocial support) to the Armed Forces Community receiving treatment within the Wye Valley NHS Trust. We understand that any hospital treatment or healthcare intervention whether planned or unplanned can be stressful and can bring with it feelings of isolation, stress and worry, all of which influence recovery. We support the Armed Forces Community hospital patient with solutions that can optimise recovery and assist with timely discharge from hospital once medically stable. This support can be anything from a chat / social visit whilst in hospital from the DMWS Welfare Officer, through to making sure that the right connections are made to other services, including other Charities for when the patient is discharged.

• Steve Kerrigan – DMWS Welfare Officer (Hereford)
  Telephone: 07502 909238
  Email: skerrigan@dmws.org.uk (Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday 9am to 5pm).
  
  
• Alternatively, contact the DMWS National Response Service, Telephone: 0800 9993697 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm).
   

How could you get involved in the NHS?

The NHS can benefit significantly from the skills and experience you bring from your military training and service. Find out more about careers for veterans and reservists in the NHS at www.militarystepintohealth.nhs.uk

Armed Forces Covenant

The NHS is committed to the Armed Forces Covenant, which is a promise by the nation that those who serve or who have served in the UK armed forces, and their families, will be treated fairly. It has two key principles:

• The armed forces community should not face disadvantage compared to other citizens in the provision of public and commercial services.
• Special consideration is appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.

 You and your families should not be at a disadvantage in accessing appropriate health services; for example, if you are on a waiting list and are moving.

The NHS always prioritises people with the most urgent clinical need. At the same time, we must recognise your health and social needs and act on them. We are working to make sure this happens.

To learn more about the Veterans Covenant Hospital Alliance and what it means for NHS hospitals to be Veteran Aware, please visit: https://improvement.nhs.uk/resources/veteran-aware-hospitals/

For more information on NHS healthcare for veterans, visit the NHS Choices website at www.nhs.uk and search for ‘veteran’. 

Local services providing help and support 

• Herefordshire's Veteran Support Centre (HVSC), offer a friendly drop-in for anyone in the armed forces community needing support and guidance.  It was set up to provide a one-stop-shop of support and a friendly listening ear for anyone in the Armed Forces community in Herefordshire that may be experiencing issues or requiring support in other areas of life or work.  No matter the issue large or small the HVSC can quickly access a hub of support.  The Centre is located at 19 West Street, Hereford, HR4 0BX and is open on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 0900 hrs to 1700 hrs.  Contact the Centre Manager at Sean.Gane@herefordshire.gov.uk or call 07792 881354
• There are a number of other military charities and bespoke services for the armed forces in Herefordshire including SSAFA Herefordshire, The Royal British Legion and The First Light Trust Hereford
• The Military Charities Helpdesk is available in the Herefordshire Council Customer Service Centre in Blueschool House, Blueschool Street, Hereford, each Tuesday (SSAFA) and Thursday (Royal British Legion) between 10 am and 2 pm. No appointment necessary. (Currently closed) 
• For a full list of local services and support visit Herefordshire Armed Forces Covenant

National Helplines 

• The Veterans’ Gateway is a first point of contact for veterans and their families and can put them in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need. The Veterans’ Gateway can be contacted by phone (0808 802 1212), text (81212) or online at www.veteransgateway.org.uk by live chat or email.
• Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service – an NHS Service for veterans and their families needing support with mental health issues. The NHS military mental health helpline is: 0800 323 4444
• The Royal British Legion helpline: 0808 802 8080.
• SSAFA Forcesline: 0800 260 6767
• Veterans’ Trauma Network provides specialist care to veterans with service-specific injuries. Veterans benefit from a personalised care plan implemented by top military and civilian trauma experts in health centres across England. Referrals can be made via your GP at england.veteranstraumanetwork@nhs.net For more information, email Blesma at bsoprosthetics@blesma.org or call 0208 548 7080.
• Hearing Loss and Tinnitus Services. If you have acquired hearing loss and/or tinnitus relating to your time in service, additional support can be funded through the Royal British Legion Veterans’ Hearing Fund. To access the service, ask your GP to refer you to your local NHS audiology department or download an application form via the Veterans’ Medical Funds 
• Mobility Equipment Support The Royal British Legion has a Veterans’ Mobility Fund, which provides specialist wheelchairs, orthotic equipment and other mobility-related items for veterans who have a service-related serious physical injury and whose needs cannot be met through statutory services. Eligibility for the fund requires the condition to be attributable to service and typically applicants will be in receipt of a War Pension or relevant award under the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme.
• The Veterans and Families’ Directory of Services is an online and searchable map of services for the Armed Forces Community. All NHS staff can access the app

NHS care for the Armed Forces community

The NHS is responsible for providing all hospital and most community services for serving personnel (except for mental health, general practice and rehabilitation services). The NHS also provides nearly all community, general practice and hospital services for the families of serving personnel, reservists and veterans. Included as part of this are the following dedicated services and initiatives to support the Armed Forces community.   

Healthcare for the Armed Forces community: a forward view outlines the commitments NHS England is making to improve the health and wellbeing of the whole Armed Forces community. 

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

Op COURAGE provides a broad range of specialist mental health and wellbeing care and support for Service leavers, reservists, veterans and their families. Individuals can self-refer to their local service or ask a healthcare professional, charity, family member or friend to do this. 

Op RESTORE: The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service

Op RESTORE provides care and treatment to those with a Service-attributable physical health condition. Located in 13 major trauma centres (Plymouth, Oxford, London (three centres), Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Cambridge, Brighton and Middlesbrough) and with links to four NHS trusts, the network works closely with Defence Medical Services, national centres of clinical expertise, Op COURAGE and military charities, to provide holistic care. Access to Op RESTORE requires a primary care referral by emailing imperial.oprestore@nhs.net. 

Op NOVA: Supporting Veterans in the Justice System

Op NOVA provides one to one non clinical support to veterans who are at risk of being arrested or already have been, are due to leave prison or have been released from prison.  Veterans accessing the service have access to a range of practical and emotional help, along with being supported by an expert case worker. 

Op COMMUNITY: Armed Forces Community Support 

Op COMMUNITY is an NHS England funded pilot being delivered by seven integrated care boards (ICBs). Op COMMUNITY is providing care navigation and signposting to the wider Armed Forces community with a specific focus on Serving families. We are supporting ICBs to communicate their referral pathways locally at this time. 

Veterans Prosthetics Panel (VPP)

The VPP provides funding on a named veteran basis to NHS Disablement Service Centres (DSC) to ensure that veterans who have service attributable limb loss can access high quality prosthetics regardless of which DSC they attend. More information is available here. 

Armed Forces personnel in transition: Integrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans Framework (IPC4V)

IPC4V provides a personalised care approach for serving personnel who have complex and enduring, service attributable physical, neurological and mental health conditions. It provides a framework for effectively planning and delivering personalised care to support an improved discharge planning process from the military. This means that all organisations involved in supporting the individual are brought together at an earlier point in the care pathway, ensuring the appropriate arrangements are in place as they transition to civilian life. 

Personalised care forveterans with a long term physical, mental or neurological health condition or disability

Veterans with a complex and life-long health condition may be eligible for the veterans personalised care programme.  Eligible individuals will have a single personalised care plan for all their health and wellbeing needs that is developed with them and a range of organisations, including health and social care and military charities.  To apply, individuals should contact their integrated care board. 

Veteran friendly GP practice accreditation

The Royal College of General Practitioners, supported by NHS England, are rolling out the veteran friendly GP practice accreditation scheme across England. This scheme, which helps to ensure practices are equipped to best care for veterans and their families, has already accredited over 2,700 surgeries with 84% of primary care networks having at least one accredited practice.  

The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA)

The VCHA aims to improve NHS care for the Armed Forces community by supporting trusts, health boards and other providers to identify, develop and showcase the best standards of care. To date, over 170 trusts have been accredited as ‘Veteran Aware’, having demonstrated their commitment to eight core standards, including signing the Armed Forces Covenant and raising awareness of veterans’ healthcare needs.

Step into Health

The Step into Health programme encourages NHS organisations to recruit members of the Armed Forces community. Supported by NHS England, Walking with the Wounded and The Royal Foundation, it helps NHS organisations benefit from the transferable skills and values that the Armed Forces community bring into the workplace, along with raising awareness of the barriers into employment which they may face.