Cornwall and Isles of Scilly lead the way in GP support for veterans
NHS calls on veterans to “Say you served”
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly has become the first integrated care system in England where all local GP practices are registered as Veteran Friendly, with the final practices accredited on 11th November.
Now the NHS is encouraging veterans to make themselves known to their GP practice, to ensure they can access additional help or healthcare if they need it.
Dr Chris Reid, Chief Medical Officer for NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board said: “We are incredibly proud that by Armistice Day we were the first integrated care system in England to have every GP practice accredited as Veteran Friendly.
“This achievement reflects the commitment of our GP surgeries to ensure that those who have served our nation receive the health care and support they deserve.
“As a veteran myself, I know how important it is to talk to someone who is aware of the long-term consequences that military service can have on a person’s physical and mental health, and veterans in Cornwall can be confident that they will be given the right care and support they need.”
Armed Forces Member Champion and Portfolio Holder for Economy at Cornwall Council, Louis Gardner said: “The health and wellbeing of Cornwall’s veterans was an important focus of the Council’s Armed Forces Community Conference last year and resulted in an aim to work with health colleagues towards achieving 100% of Cornwall’s surgeries being accredited.
“To see the progress made in the last year from 52% to 100% is fantastic and a tribute to the commitment that Cornwall’s GPs have for our armed forces. What is important now is that we raise awareness amongst our veteran community so that they can ensure that they are receiving the help and support that they need.”
Veterans may have particular health problems relating to their service, such as former injuries, hearing loss, post-traumatic stress disorder, drug and alcohol problems and difficulty adjusting to life outside the armed forces, but new research suggests that many thousands of veterans are silently struggling with their health.
Nationally 1 in 7 veterans who have experienced service-related issues have not sought help from a healthcare professionals, but almost 2 in 3 say they would if they knew their GP was Veteran Friendly*. Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly is the first area in the country to achieve 100% accreditation, with NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board also recognised with a a Bronze Award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme
Dr Matthew Boulter, Associate Director for Veterans at NHS Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Integrated Care Board said: “We know veterans may have health needs because of their service to their country, and we want to ensure that we are able to give them the support they need. If you are a veteran, please let your GP practice know.”
What are Veteran Friendly GP practices?
- they identify veteran patients and record their status on their patient record to inform future appointments
- they have an improved understanding of the specific health needs of veterans and the challenges of transitioning back into civilian society
- they understand how to refer veterans for specialist physical and mental healthcare support, such as Op COURAGE(veterans’ mental health and wellbeing service) and Op RESTORE (veterans’ physical health and wellbeing service), as well as how to provide them with priority treatment access.
A veteran is anyone who has served a day or more in the UK Armed Forces. There are 1.74 million veterans in England and research* shows that thousands may be silently struggling with physical or mental health problems as they worry that they won’t be understood by civilian health and care professionals. The average GP practice sees a veteran patient every day – yet many may be unaware of how many of their patients are veterans
The NHS provides a range of dedicated services for veterans – find out more at nhs.co.uk/veterans
*Survey of 4,910 veterans, undertaken February 2024, commissioned by NHS England and the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP)