RCGP and NHSE urge practices to become veteran friendly accredited this Remembrance

Publication date: 07 November 2024

This Remembrance the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and NHS England urge GP practices to become veteran friendly accredited and prevent ‘silently struggling’ veterans from delaying seeking medical help.

  • In a survey of nearly 5,000* veterans commissioned by RCGP and NHS England, 63.2% of respondents said knowing their GP practice is veteran friendly would make them more likely / much more likely to seek medical help
  • Veterans are sometimes reluctant to get help from clinicians, due to concerns they won’t be understood 
  • The RCGP veteran friendly practice accreditation scheme supports practices to deliver the best possible care and treatment for veterans who have served in the UK Armed Forces and their families
  • GP practices in England can take the quick, simple and free step to become veteran friendly accredited
  • Veteran friendly GP practices will have access to a range of veteran specific NHS services and resources
  • Accreditation sends an important signal to veteran patients and their families about inclusion and improves experiences and health outcomes for veterans

While veterans may have distinct health needs, Finnegan et al. 2018 research 1 suggests that many may be reluctant to seek help from healthcare professionals, particularly if they feel they will not be understood. General practice can be pivotal in providing or signposting to the right care pathways at the earliest opportunity. Recent research from King’s Centre for Military Health Research 2 suggests that rates of Common Mental Disorders (CMD) and Post-Traumatic Stress Disorders (PTSD) have increased amongst veterans, and alcohol misuse remained high. 

With Remembrance a poignant time for those who have served in the UK Armed Forces, GP practices are being encouraged to take the quick and simple step of becoming veteran friendly to support those who may be ‘silently struggling’ with their mental or physical health.  

The Veteran Friendly Accreditation scheme by the Royal College of GPs and NHS England is a quick-to-implement, free support programme that provides the general practice team with a simple process for identifying, understanding and supporting veterans and, where appropriate, referring them to specialist physical and mental healthcare services. 

Dr Emily Brookes, the RCGP’s Veterans Clinical Champion, said: 

“While most veterans leave the UK Armed Forces without any issue, we know that some may struggle with health and wellbeing issues stemming from their service and face difficulties transitioning to civilian life. We also understand that some veterans are reluctant to share their health and wellbeing issues or military status with healthcare professionals as they feel their experiences and conditions may not be understood.”

 “This Remembrance, I would encourage those practices yet to become veteran friendly, to do so in order to best support their patients who have served in the UK Armed Forces. Benefits of accreditation include veterans being able to speak to a health professional who has a comprehensive understanding of the Armed Forces and health conditions linked to service.  Veterans will get timely priority treatment for any medical condition which has been caused by their service plus, practice teams can advise and support family members of veterans who may be affected their health conditions.”

“Through taking this quick and easy step, practices can gain access to a range of training, resources and guidance that can be used to make a real difference to the way they identify, support and refer their veteran patients, saving time in general practice and improving health outcomes for the patient.”        

“Signing up to become veteran friendly accredited takes just 20 minutes and can be done by anyone in the practice team, whether their role is clinical or non-clinical, with practice managers often taking the lead. While a clinical and operational lead must be named, the learning and support can be shared across the wider team - with Social Prescribing Link Workers often playing a key role in supporting veterans.”

Dr Jonathan Leach OBE, NHS England National Clinical Director for Armed Forces and GP at Davenal House Surgery, Bromsgrove, said: “Remembrance is an opportunity to express our gratitude to those who have bravely fought for our country as well as reminding them that there is always help available.”

“The NHS is dedicated to improving the health and wellbeing of the Armed Forces community by making sure every veteran gets the best possible care. That’s why, since 2021, we have committed an additional £25 million for veteran health services, over four years, which includes improving access to specialist mental and physical health care and support as well as working with the Royal College of General Practitioners to support GP practices to become veteran friendly.”

“We encourage others to do the same – it really does make a difference to improving care.” 

Visit the RCGP veterans' Health Hub to join the free scheme for GP practices.

References

1 Finnegan, A, Simpson, R.G. et al. Finding the Forgotten: Motivating Military Veterans to Register with a Primary Healthcare Practice. Military Medicine. 2018: 83, Issue 11-12

2 Sharp M, Jones M, Leal R, et al. Health and well-being of serving and ex-serving UK Armed Forces personnel: protocol for the fourth phase of a longitudinal cohort study. BMJ Open 2023;13:e079016. Doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079016

About the RCGP Veteran Friendly Practice Accreditation Programme

  • The Veteran Friendly GP Practice accreditation scheme supports practices to deliver the best possible care and treatment for veterans who have served in the UK Armed Forces and their families.
  • The scheme helps GP practices to identify, code and support their veteran patients, which is important as the healthcare needs of veterans can be different to the general population.
  • Accredited practices appoint a clinical lead who receives training and support and receives an information pack to help increase their understanding of the health needs of veterans, and the services available to them.
  • The information pack provides practices with a simple process for the easy identification of veteran patients, information on how to refer to specialist veteran healthcare services such as Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service and Op RESTORE: The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service, and advice on how to secure priority access for veteran patients, subject to clinical need. The information can be easily consumed within two hours.
  • Accreditation is voluntary and fulfils key commitments of the NHS Long Term Plan: ‘To ensure all GPs in England are equipped to best serve our veterans and their families.’
  • The accreditation scheme has been developed by RCGP in partnership with NHS England.
  • In England 98% of Primary Care Networks have at least one accredited practice; over 3,700 GP practices are now accredited through the programme.

* The survey was undertaken in February 2024 by 4,910 veterans.

**For more information on specialist health services for veterans, visit www.nhs.uk/armedforceshealth

Specialist NHS services for veterans

Op COURAGE provides a broad range of specialist mental health and wellbeing care and support for Service leavers, reservists, veterans and their families. The mental health or wellbeing concern does not need to be attributable to the persons time in service. 

Individuals can self-refer to their local service or ask a healthcare professional, charity, family member or friend to do this for them.

Op RESTORE provides care and treatment to those with ongoing, Service-attributable physical injuries and associated problems. Located in 13 major trauma centres (Plymouth, Oxford, London (three centres), Birmingham, Nottingham, Liverpool, Leeds, Cambridge, Brighton and Middlesbrough), 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 GP referral by emailing imperial.oprestore@nhs.net.

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 caseworker. 

Forces Employment Charity has been commissioned to provide this service by NHS England. 

Further information

RCGP press office: 0203 188 7659
press@rcgp.org.uk

Notes to editors

The Royal College of General Practitioners is a network of more than 54,000 family doctors working to improve care for patients. We work to encourage and maintain the highest standards of general medical practice and act as the voice of GPs on education, training, research and clinical standards.