VE Day: Our Commitment to the Armed Forces Community
VE Day, on 8 May, marks the beginning of the end of the Second World War, when Germany unconditionally surrendered its armed forces to the allies.
This VE Day, we are launching our Armed Forces Veterans campaign.
Chief Executive David Bradley has signed a pledge on behalf of the Trust, to uphold the Armed Forces Covenant.
David said: "We are committed to being an Armed Forces-friendly employer, and ensuring members of the Armed Forces Community receive appropriate mental health care. The impact of active service can have a devastating impact on the mental health of individuals and their families. This pledge represents our promise to the Armed Forces Community that we will uphold the Armed Forces Covenant."
We are working towards gaining our Veterans Awareness Accreditation.
What does this mean?
As part of the accreditation, we want to identify patients and staff that are part of the Armed Forces Community to ensure they get the support they need.
Our pledge and commitment to the Covenant involves ensuring the Armed Forces Community enjoys the same standard of, and access to healthcare as, that received by any other UK citizen in the area they live and does not experience disadvantage as a result of their service. Veterans may receive priority treatment for a condition directly attributable to their service, subject to clinical need.
We are working with the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) who will be supporting us to reach this goal. You can read more about the Duty here.
What can you do?
If you are a service user and part of the Armed Forces Community – this includes serving personnel, their families and dependents, reservists and veterans, please let your clinician know and they can update your records.
More information about healthcare services available to members of the Armed Forces in our boroughs.
For more information on support available for the Armed Forces Community please see our dedicated webpage.
