Healthcare case studies: Understanding Armed Forces needs

July 18, 2024

Conducting research to understand local Armed Forces healthcare needs

• Harborough Locality Integrated Leadership Team has representatives from public and third sector organisations working to enhance individuals’ health and wellbeing experiences through collaborative working. A Local Authority and HealthWatch survey of Armed Forces Community members found that many respondents had mental (22%) and physical (29%) health issues directly related to Service, but felt they had a lack of support, access, and understanding from their public service providers. The Locality Integrated Leadership Team responded to the survey findings and reached out to the NHS to improve this experience. They worked with Armed Forces officers and case workers providing healthcare support to members of the Armed Forces Community. The result was an online training workshop to improve health practitioners’ awareness of Service life and related health concerns. Anecdotal evidence showed increased engagement with Armed Forces Community clients and referrals to specialist providers.

Improving GPs’ awareness of their local veteran healthcare needs

• Westfield Surgery in Leominster, Herefordshire, is accredited as veteran-friendly. By going through the accreditation process, it has been able to support Armed Forces patients in a way it would not otherwise have done. It has a nominated clinical lead for veteran health. It has supported a number of patients through fast-tracking treatment for a military-related injury, and has been able to put lonely veterans in touch with appropriate social contacts. It has established links with local military charities and support agencies. It has successfully encouraged veterans to identify as such on the surgery’s systems, for example the telephone messaging asks patients that are veterans to make the surgery aware. Through ongoing training of its staff, it continues to improve its awareness of the specific needs of the Armed Forces Community, enabling correct support or care pathways to be followed.

Training of healthcare staff about Armed Forces issues

• Some health bodies use internal communication methods to promote Armed Forces Community issues and the Armed Forces Covenant among their staff. In Wales, this has been realised, in part, by the Welsh Health Circular – a detailed instruction to all health boards and staff in Wales which outlines key information on topics such as identification of veterans, the Covenant, mental health, the Veterans’ gateway, limb loss and adaptations.