Military Veteran Aware Accreditation being adopted by GP practices

Dr Mike Brookes, a GP who served in Iraq, was once told by a patient that he had joined Dr Brookes’ practice in the hope of being treated by a doctor who was in a position to understand his needs as a veteran. That gave birth to the Military Veteran Aware Accreditation, a veteran friendly NHS England scheme, which is being adopted by GP practices across the country. If they can offer additional support to ex-servicemen and women returning to civilian life, and better identify and treat their needs, then the practice can quality for the veteran friendly status.

Dr Brookes said: “It made me reflect on a potential unmet need for our veterans. I could see how pivotal a GP practice could be at identifying ex-service personnel to help ensure they receive care and treatment that is considerate of their time in the armed forces.”

Chair of the Royal College of GPs, Professor Helen Stokes-Lampard, said: “Veterans often have unique health needs, and this new scheme is a fantastic way of ensuring that when they visit their GP, for whatever reason, these needs are flagged up, considered and accommodated. It’s great to see successful local initiatives being rolled out nationally so that they can benefit patients across the country.”

Dr Jonathan Leach, NHS England Armed Forces Clinical Reference Group chair, said: “We are committed to providing veterans with a seamless, high quality service when it comes to their health needs. Our priority is to make sure that no matter where a veteran lives in the country, they will have access to a GP who understands their military related health needs and supports them to get the right treatment and support.”