Armed Forces veterans will be encouraged to inform their GP of their military service so they can access care that better suits their needs.
The Office for Veterans’ Affairs and NHS England have today launched a campaign to boost the wellbeing of former service members.
They want more people to sign up for support with their mental and physical health, highlighting the slogan: ‘There is power in asking for help.’
The Royal College of GPs will also ask GPs to become ‘veteran friendly accredited’, indicating they are aware of the specialist services available locally.
Johnny Mercer, Secretary of State for Veterans Affairs, told the Mail: ‘This Government is doing more than ever before to support our veterans, but it is vital that veterans know they will be heard when they speak out.
The Office for Veterans’ Affairs and NHS England have today launched a campaign to boost the wellbeing of former service members. They want more people to sign up for support with their mental and physical health, highlighting the slogan: ‘There is power in asking for help’
Johnny Mercer, Secretary of State for Veterans Affairs, told the Mail: ‘This government is doing more than ever before to support our veterans, but it is vital that veterans know they will be heard when they speak out.’ Mr Mercer is pictured arriving at Downing Street on March 12
“We want to give them the confidence to tell their story and access tailored services that can help them transition comfortably to civilian life.”
General practitioners typically see one veteran per day, but many do not know who they are and therefore do not refer them to specialist services.
The initiatives, called Op Courage and Op Restore, have been designed with veterans in mind and are run by a mix of armed forces charities and NHS teams who understand military life and the care needs that arise from it.
On Courage helps people who have served in the British Armed Forces and are experiencing poor mental health, abusing substances or suffering from addictions.
The program is supported by over £17 million per year and has already received 30,000 referrals in its first five years
Meanwhile, Op Restore helps those who have served in or are leaving the British Armed Forces and who have ongoing physical health problems attributed to their time in service.
It can refer veterans to the Veterans Mobility Fund, which provides veterans with physical disabilities with grants for mobility aids not normally available on the NHS, such as specialist wheelchairs, to improve their quality of life.
Mr. Mercer said he believes some veterans feel “on the sidelines” as if their experiences and feelings don’t matter, but he emphasized that “nothing could be further from the truth.”
He said he will ‘let their flag fly’ and show what veterans can achieve through Britain’s bid for the Invictus Games.
He added: ‘Being part of our armed forces is unlike anything else: the skills you learn, the friends you make, the challenges you experience are completely unique.
‘My time in the commandos – and my three tours in Afghanistan – actually helped me become the man I am today.
“On the way home from Afghanistan, I felt like tokenism dominated almost every approach to veteran care and mental health.
‘When it came to post-battle care specifically, I strongly believed that the government had failed our soldiers in an extraordinary way.
‘I entered politics to make life better for our veterans.
‘It is this simple truth that is at the heart of a new campaign that the Office for Veterans’ Affairs is launching today with NHS England.’