We, at the Atrium Health Centre are proud to be an accredited Veteran Friendly GP practice and to support our veteran community.

As a Veteran Friendly GP Practice we:

• Have a clinical lead for veteran health, 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 and code them on our system.
• 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’re a veteran patient, please let us know that you have served so that we can make sure that we understand your health needs.

A University of Chester study revealed that the Veteran Friendly Accreditation programme, which is run by the Royal College of General Practitioners in partnership with NHS England, leads to better healthcare. To find out more about the veteran friendly practices accreditation scheme, click here.

The reports and images of the atrocities unfolding in the Ukraine and other areas of the world may be “triggering” in those who have served. Some may find the news about the current conflicts overwhelming. Recognition and awareness of this is important in providing appropriate care and support for our veteran patients. Veterans who find their mental health and wellbeing affected by the war can seek specialist support through a number of initiatives;

• Op COMUNITY; is an NHS England funded pilot 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. See; Dorset HealthCare :: Armed Forces - Health and Wellbeing for how to access in Dorset.
• 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
• 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 NOVA; provides emotional and practical support to veterans at all points of the justice system in England, including pre-arrest, arrest, post-arrest and those serving a custodial sentence. The prime objective is to provide a single support pathway for veterans to move away from the justice system. Veterans are supported on an individual basis, empowering them to engage and access specialist support services. Op NOVA receives referrals from the Police, the NHS Liaison and Diversion teams, the Prison and Probation service and NHS Reconnect (for veterans before they leave prison).  Op NOVA is open 8am - 8pm Monday to Friday and 8am - 2pm Saturday, their freephone contact number is 0800 9177299.
• Op PROSPER; is an Office for Veterans’ Affairs programme empowering veterans and their families the length and breadth of the United Kingdom, enabling them to thrive in society by ensuring equal access to employment opportunities and supporting them into sustainable, valuable careers. The programme mobilises the business community to drive practical, cultural and behavioural change within sectors, ensuring they become more ‘veteran friendly’, while also creating tailored pathways for veterans into positions of employment.  Call the Veteran Support Team for further information on 0121 262 3058.
• 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, so if you feel that you need this service please send an eConsult in to us to arrange an appointment to discuss.
• Op STERLING; is a working in partnership with Fighting With Pride, and Age UK delivering a programme to help older LGBT+ veterans, service personnel and their families. The Operation Sterling programme provides telephone-based support, advice and casework to older LGBT+ veterans through Age UK’s Advice Line. The existing expertise of Age UK’s Advice Line advisors and the knowledge that Fighting With Pride has about how best to support the well-being of LGBT+ veterans means that Operation Sterling can support older LGBT+ veterans in many ways.  Access to support is via an online enquiry form.
• See also Veterans’ Gateway.

The Veterans Trauma Network (VTN) supports veterans with service-related physical healthcare issues – no matter how long ago they occurred or how severe they were or are. This includes recurrent illness, problems after limb loss, joint pain, and musculoskeletal injuries. 

The VTN is a network of NHS Trusts across England with regional VTN Consultant Leads based in NHS Veterans Trauma centres, and four specialist units. It recognises that veterans often have unique physical health needs due to their service, and aims to support these needs through bespoke provision of joined-up clinical and holistic care. 

Veterans often have a combination of physical health, mental health, chronic pain and other issues that affect them and their families/carers. The VTN can link these physical and mental health problems with additional support from military charities, providing a holistic care package. Referring a patient into the VTN requires a GP referral; to obtain the form contact england.veteranstraumanetwork@nhs.net