Armed Forces friendly

We were accredited as a Veteran Aware NHS Trust April 2023 and received the prestigious Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS) Silver Award from the Ministry of Defence June 2023.

As part of the Armed Forces Covenant, we have pledged to support the armed forces both as an employer and health and social care provider and champion best practice in NHS care for people who serve or have served in the UK armed forces and their families. Read more about the covenant here: Home - Armed Forces Covenant

Working with, and learning from staff, patients and their families who serve or have served we will continue to raise awareness further and embed improvements and staff training that will help strengthen Shropshire Community Health NHS Trust as a Veteran and Armed Forces friendly healthcare provider.

Our commitment is not only to our patients, families, carers and staff, but also to support the armed forces communities as an employer; recognising the experiences and skills ex-military personnel have gained through their service. We are pledged to the Step-into-Health programme Step into Health | NHS Employers

What you can expect from us:

• Equal care for the armed forces community, 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
• Train relevant staff on veteran-specific culture so we can respond to the needs of our Armed Forced Community.
• Inform staff if a veteran or their GP has told the hospital they have served in the armed forces, recording in the patients health record
• Special consideration when appropriate in some cases, especially for those who have given most such as the injured and the bereaved.
• Reasonable adjustments for those who need them
• Information and signposting to ensure that veterans, reservist and service families are aware of appropriate charities or NHS services beneficial to them. For example mental health services or support with financial and/or benefit claims

Veterans and military personnel 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). Please note this is always subject to clinical need and will not entitle them to be prioritised ahead of someone with a greater clinical need.

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

Useful links

• Royal British Legion
• Veterans’ Gateway
• Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS)
• Little Troopers
• Forces Families Jobs
• Op Courage - Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Read more about healthcare for the Armed Forces here: Healthcare for the armed forces community - NHS (www.nhs.uk)

Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) is the national charity supporting service personnel, veterans and their families. SSAFA offers support to the community, whether at home, overseas or in an operational environment. Read more about SSAFA here.