We are extremely proud to announce that the Trust has achieved Veteran Aware accreditation status, formally recognising our commitment to the Armed Forces community.

The Trust aims to develop, share and drive the implementation of best practice that will improve Armed Forces Veterans’ care. This can particularly be seen in the work of the Recovery College and the role it will play in developing services and support for members of the Armed Forces community.

About 78,000 veterans and 187,200 families live in the area along with a serving cohort of 2,080, including the largest number of reservists in the region. This amounts to a total Armed Forces population of around 22 per cent in the county.

The Veteran Aware Accreditation acknowledges our commitment to several key pledges, including:

  • Ensuring that the armed forces community is never disadvantaged compared to other patients, in line with the NHS’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant.
  • Training relevant staff on veteran specific culture or needs.
  • Making veterans, reservists and service families aware of appropriate NHS services beneficial to them.
  • Supporting the armed forces as an employer.

The Armed Forces Covenant is a promise by the nation that those who serve or have served in the UK armed forces, and their families, will be treated fairly.

We signed the Armed Forces Covenant in 2023 to pledge our support as an employer and health organisation to the armed forces. 

We are also involved with the Step Into Health scheme. The scheme helps connect members of the Armed Forces community to NHS organisations to receive application support and set up training opportunities, insight days and work placements.

Please let us know if you or a family member has ever served in the UK armed forces so that we can best support your care needs.

Being identified as a veteran in your NHS medical notes will ensure you are able to access specific veterans’ health services. Please email: bchft.communications@nhs.net.

You can also access the resources on this page.

Resources