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Veterans of the armed forces will be encouraged to make their GP aware of their military service so that 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 ex-servicemen and women.
They want more people to come forward to get support for their mental and physical health and emphasize the slogan: ‘There is strength 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, Minister 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 if they speak up.
The Office for Veterans’ Affairs and NHS England have today launched a campaign to boost the wellbeing of ex-servicemen and women. They want more people to come forward to support their mental and physical health and emphasize the slogan: ‘There is strength in asking for help’
Johnny Mercer, Minister 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 if they speak up.’ In the picture, Mr. Mercer arrives at Downing Street on 12 March
“We want to give them the confidence to tell their story and access tailored services that can help them transition comfortably into civilian life.”
GPs typically see one veteran a day, but many are unaware of who they are and therefore fail to 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 charities and NHS teams who understand military life and the care demands that come with it.
Op Courage helps people who have served in the British Armed Forces and are experiencing mental ill health, substance abuse or addiction.
The scheme is supported by over £17m a 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 have ongoing physical health injuries attributable to their time in service.
It can refer veterans to the Veterans Mobility Fund, which provides veterans with physical disabilities with grants for mobility equipment not normally available on the NHS, such as specialist wheelchairs, to improve their quality of life.
Mercer said he believes some veterans feel “sidelined” as if their experiences and feelings don’t matter, but he stressed “nothing could be further from the truth”.
He said he will “fly their flag” 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.
‘In fact, my time in the commandos – and my three tours in Afghanistan – helped make me the man I am today.
‘On my way home from Afghanistan, I felt that tokenism dominated almost every approach to veterans’ care and mental health.
‘When it came to post-combat care specifically, I was convinced that the government had failed our servicemen and women.
‘I got into politics to make life better for our veterans.
‘It is this simple truth that is at the heart of a new campaign which the Office for Veterans’ Affairs is launching today with NHS England.’