Veterans

We are an Armed Forces veteran friendly accredited GP practice.

Veterans Accreditation Certificate

A veteran is anyone who has served for at least one day in the Armed Forces, whether as a regular or reservist. There are over 2.4 million in the UK.

This means that as part of the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant, we have a dedicated clinician who has specialist knowledge of military related health conditions and veteran specific health services and this clinician updates our whole GP Team. This is important in helping ex-forces to get the best care and treatment.

By becoming an accredited practice, it ensures that the NHS is better able to meet the health commitments of the Armed Forces Covenant. This states that the Armed Forces community, including veterans, should face no disadvantage in accessing health services and should receive priority care for military attributable conditions, subject to clinical need.

If you are ex-forces, please contact us or fill in our online form, to help ensure you are getting the best possible care.

NHS services and support available to veterans:

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

After serving in the Armed Forces, some people find it hard to adjust to civvy street. If you’re struggling with your mental health and wellbeing, Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service is here to help.

Op COURAGE is an NHS service in England that’s been developed with people who’ve served in the Armed Forces and experienced mental ill-health. Every member of staff within the service is either from the Armed Forces or has experience of working with the military community. In partnership with Armed Forces charities and NHS services, the staff at Op COURAGE provide specialist care, support and treatment for those due to leave the military, reservists and those who’ve served. Since its launch in 2017, the service has helped nearly 30,000 veterans.

What does Op COURAGE offer?

Op COURAGE provides a range of specialist support and treatment, depending on the needs of the individual – there’s no ‘one size fits all’. This might include helping you to recognise and treat early signs of mental ill health, as well as providing care and support for more advanced mental health conditions and psychological trauma.

In addition, the service provides support and treatment for a range of addictions, such as alcohol and drug misuse and gambling, and can refer you to other NHS services if needed. Op COURAGE also works with charities and local organisations to provide support for your wider health and wellbeing needs, which may include help with housing, relationships, finances and employment.

We know that when someone is unwell it may affect the rest of the family, so Op COURAGE can support them access help and care too.

Who can Op COURAGE help?

• Op COURAGE supports UK Armed Forces veterans living in England, as long as they have served a minimum of one full day, and regardless of how long ago they left the military.
• Op COURAGE also provides support to serving personnel due to leave the Armed Forces and reservists.

How do you access Op COURAGE?

You can contact Op COURAGE directly to make an appointment or ask someone else, such as a family member, friend, charity or health professional to make it for you. You can also ask your GP to refer you, but you don’t have to go through your GP to get an appointment. For details of your local service, visit nhs.uk/opcourage

Op RESTORE: The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service

Op RESTORE: The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service is an NHS service that provides specialist care and treatment to veterans who have physical health problems as a result of their time in the Armed Forces.

Op RESTORE does not provide veteran mental health support, but works alongside Op COURAGE: the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

How Op RESTORE can support you:

• Providing personalised treatment within the NHS
• Treating you through military and civilian clinicians who understand the military environment and specialise in the type of physical health problems you have
• Helping families and carers of veterans with physical health problems access appropriate support services

Who Op RESTORE can help:

• If you have a physical health problem of any type or severity
• If your physical health problem is a result of your time in service
• No matter when your physical health problem first appeared
• No matter when you left the armed forces
• If you live in England and are registered with a GP practice in England

Accessing Op RESTORE

• Ask a GP to refer you to Op RESTORE.

Further information HERE.

Other services are available to veterans:

• Blesma – supports limbless veterans to lead independent and fulfilling lives.
• Blind Veterans UK – Blind Veterans UK helps vision-impaired ex-Servicemen and women to rebuild their lives after sight loss. Provide rehabilitation, training, practical advice and emotional support to veterans regardless of how or when they lost their sight.
• Cobseo Website – Confederation of Service Charities.
• Combat Stress – Provide clinical treatment and support for veterans from the British Armed Forces, with a focus on those with complex mental health issues. 24 hour mental health helpline, 0800 138 1619. You can also text on 07537 173683 and email helpline@combatstress.org.uk
• Contact Website – The Contact Group (‘Contact’) is the collaboration of statutory and non-statutory (charity, academic and professional) organisations working to improve mental health support to the UK armed forces community including serving personnel, veterans and their families.
• Hearing loss and tinnitus services  
• Help for Heroes – Offer a wide range of support, including money troubles, support with housing, applying for benefits or a listening ear. 
• Hertfordshire Heroes
  • Including information on peer support groups, Emotional and peer support (hertfordshireheroes.org)
• Op COMMUNITY: is a dedicated telephone and email helpline for members of the Armed Forces Community needing advice and guidance on services including NHS and social care.
  • Call 07908 209912 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm)
  • Email hcns.HWE-AFCfamiliesveterans@nhs.net.
• Op FORITUDE – is funded by The Armed Forces Covenant Fund to deliver a centralised referral pathway into veteran supported housing. They work with individual veterans at risk of or experiencing homelessness, supporting them either into suitable accommodation, or supporting them to maintain their current home. They can self-refer through the link.
• Supporting Wounded Veterans | UK Veterans Charity – Provide six comprehensive pathways including sporting events, mentoring, pain management and employment to enable former UK servicemen and women, physically or mentally wounded, to move forward from rehabilitation to employment. Also offers a online review with a consultant in pain medicine who is also a Veteran.
• Veterans’ Gateway – First point of contact for Veterans and their loved ones, helpline available 24/7.
• Veterans Welfare Service – The VWS provides one-to-one support to veterans, their families and dependants, via a network of welfare managers across the UK and Republic of Ireland.
• Veterans UK – The Ministry of Defence’s Veterans UK helpline provides assistance on many issues including benefits, housing and welfare.
• Charities and support groups – NHS (www.nhs.uk)
• Support for Families of Veterans 

More information on NHS services for veterans can be found on the NHS website HERE

Top Tips Leaflet for Veterans