A new NHS training scheme launched this week will see doctors, nurses, and healthcare staff across England receive specialist training to better identify and support patients from Armed Forces backgrounds.
The initiative, backed by £1.8 million over three years, is designed to ensure serving personnel, veterans, reservists, and their families receive more personalised and informed care.
The programme, developed by NHS England and the Ministry of Defence, follows concerns that many veterans struggle to access the tailored healthcare they need, often because they do not disclose their service background. It will be delivered through regional trainers who will work directly with NHS staff to embed Armed Forces awareness across hospitals, GP practices, and community health services.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting said the scheme represented a tangible commitment to those who have served. “As we mark Remembrance Sunday, we’re honouring our Armed Forces not just with words, but with action. We owe serving personnel and veterans nothing less than the best. Too many face a system that doesn’t fully understand their needs, that changes today.”
Defence Secretary John Healey said the new approach would ensure consistent, specialist support. “This government will serve our veterans and our Armed Forces just as they have served us. These improvements to healthcare will help ensure they can access the bespoke support and care they need and deserve.”
The NHS programme builds on the success of the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), which has now accredited every NHS trust in England as ‘Veteran Aware’. The designation requires trusts to identify patients with military backgrounds, train staff in Armed Forces-related health issues, and ensure fair access to care.
Gregg Stevenson MBE, a former soldier and Paralympian who now works as a regional VCHA trainer, said the training is already making a difference. “After being injured in Afghanistan, I never imagined I’d one day be working in the NHS — yet here I am, helping train staff to better understand and meet the health needs of the Armed Forces community.”
Kate Davies CBE, NHS England’s National Director for Armed Forces Health, said the programme was part of a wider shift in how the NHS supports those who serve. “This initiative will equip NHS staff with the skills to better support the unique needs of these patients and make sure the NHS is there for them when they need us most.”
Veterans’ charities including SSAFA, Help for Heroes, and Cobseo welcomed the move, describing it as an important step in addressing long-standing gaps in care for service personnel and their families.
Well at least they are acknowledging that Veterans health needs specific attention, so that’s good. Now for the bad news, some of us can count so I’ll jump in before Jonathan (NHS SME) does.
There are 2.35 million veterans in the U.K.
There are 1.85 million in England and Wales.
The extra money is £1.8 million, so less than £1 per veteran, I guess the training will consist of “at 1st point of contact can you ask every patient if they are a veteran and put a tick in a box ? No further action is required nor funded”.
One of the last WW2 veterans summed it all up nicely yesterday “when I look at this country now, it wasn’t worth it”.
😔