Publication date
February 2025
Key findings
To improve healthcare for the armed forces community, the NHS should:
- Recognise and respond to needs: incorporate veterans’ experiences into service design for better outcomes.
- Veteran friendly GP accreditation: implement this and provide targeted training for healthcare professionals.
- Dedicated roles and support: create veteran liaison roles, improve medical record transfers, and establish regional support hubs.
- Structured transition program: support veterans transitioning from military to civilian healthcare.
- Armed forces covenant: apply consistently to ensure priority treatment for service-related conditions.
- Diversity and tailored approaches: address the varied experiences within the armed forces community.
- Mental health services: enhance services, reduce stigma, and address the link between physical and mental health.
- Family inclusion: involve veteran and serving families in healthcare processes.
- Veteran-centric environment: promote ongoing support and awareness across all levels of care.
These steps will build trust and deliver better healthcare outcomes for veterans, serving personnel, and their families.
Additional information
Survey by Healthwatch Hertfordshire.
Healthwatch Hertfordshire and Healthwatch Essex have been commissioned by the Hertfordshire and West Essex Integrated Care Board (ICB) Primary Care Workstream to undertake a series of engagement projects.
The aims of the engagement projects include:
- Gathering lived experiences to feed directly into the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICS
Primary Care Workstream. - Supporting and enabling the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICS to achieve wider
participant engagement. - Engaging patients and the public on programmes covering key priorities and areas of
importance at a regional and local level. - Making recommendations to the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICS Primary Care
Workstream so improvements can be implemented.