Veterans
As a Veteran Friendly GP Practice we:
- Have a clinical lead for veteran health, Dr Marc Le Roux, who is supported by the whole Practice to improve veteran health services.
- Ask patients ‘Have you served in the Armed Forces?’ to help identify veteran patients
- Support veteran patients to access dedicated health services
- Undertake regular training and development to meet the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant and better understand the needs of veteran patients
If you are a veteran patient, please let us know that you have served so that we can make sure that we understand your health needs.
More than 1,400 practices are now veteran friendly accredited and a University of Chester study revealed that 99% of accredited practices would recommend the accreditation. To find out more about the Veteran Friendly Practices accreditation scheme, visit www.rcgp.org.uk/veterans
The Veteran Friendly Practices accreditation scheme is run by the Royal College of General Practitioners in partnership with NHS England.
Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, Reservists, Armed Forces veterans and their families. This service is supported by trained professionals who are from, or have experience of working with, the Armed Forces community. Patients can refer themselves, through a friend, charity or by a GP.
Please click here to visit the NHS East of England Op COURAGE website for more information.
Op COMMUNITY
Op COMMUNITY is an NHS England funded pilot being delivered by seven Integrated Care Boards (ICB) providing an easily accessible point of contact with a dedicated email and phone number to support the Armed Forces community, with a specific focus on serving families.
Op FORTITUDE
Op FORTITUDE can be accessed by homeless veterans including those sleeping on the streets. The housing hotline, delivered by The Riverside Group, will give homeless veterans a single point of contact to get them the help they need. Veterans can access the scheme through a dedicated charity helpline (0800 9520774).
Op RESTORE
Op RESTORE is an NHS service that supports individuals who have served in, or are leaving the UK Armed Forces, and have continuing physical health injuries and related medical problems attributed to their time in the Armed Forces. Referrals need to come from the veteran’s GP by emailing imperial.oprestore@nhs.net.