This is our page specifically for armed forces veterans and immediate members of military families. We are accredited as an armed forces veteran friendly practice by the Royal College of General Practitioners. You can see our veterans’ patient charter here. Our veteran clinical lead is Dr Olesya Atkinson.
We hope you find the following resources helpful. Please let our reception team know if you are an armed forces veteran so that we can update your records.
Blesma
Blesma, The Limbless Veterans, is an Armed Forces charity dedicated to assisting serving and ex-Service men and women who have suffered life-changing limb loss or the use of a limb, an eye or sight.
They support these men and women in their communities throughout the UK.
Phone
020 8590 1124
Website
blesma.org
Email
info@blesma.orgBlind Veterans UK
Help for vision-impaired ex-Servicemen and women to rebuild their lives after sight loss.
Website
www.blindveterans.org.ukCombat Stress
Combat Stress are the UK’s leading charity for veteran’s mental health.
They provide specialist treatment and support for veterans from every service and conflict to give them hope and a future.
Phone
0800 138 1619
Text
07537 404719
Website
www.combatstress.org.uk
Email
helpline@combatstress.org.ukContact
Contact is a group of charities working with the NHS and the MOD. They want to make it simpler for the military community to find support with their mental wellbeing.
Website
www.contactarmedforces.co.ukGloucestershire Armed Forces Veteran Connect
News and round up of useful resources put together by the Gloucestershire Armed Forces Veterans group.
Website
www.glosafv.blogspot.comHelp for Heroes – Hidden Wounds Service
Help for Heroes’ Hidden Wounds Service provides free and confidential support to Ex-Service personnel, their families and the families of those still serving.
Phone
0808 2020 144
Website
www.helpforheroes.org.uk
Email
hidden.wounds@helpforheroes.org.ukIntegrated Personal Commissioning for Veterans Framework (IPC4V)
IPC4V provides a personalised care approach for serving personnel who have complex and enduring, service attributable physical, neurological and mental health conditions.
It provides a framework for effectively planning and delivering personalised care to support an improved discharge planning process from the military.
Website
www.england.nhs.uk/commissioning/armed-forcesNHS Healthcare
How the NHS can help if you’re in military service or a veteran.
Website
www.nhs.ukNHS Mental Health Care for Veterans
Helpful information on mental healthcare for veterans.
Download
NHS mental health care for veterans (PDF)NHS Veterans’ Prosthetics Scheme
The Government recently announced it was making £11 million available to spend on prosthetics and improve rehabilitation services across the country for ex-servicemen and women who are amputees.
The NHS Veterans’ Prosthetics page provides more information on the scheme and how veterans can apply.
Website
Veterans, service leavers, and non-mobilised reservists – NHSOp COURAGE
Op COURAGE is an NHS mental health specialist service designed to help serving personnel due to leave the military, reservists, armed forces veterans and their families. Everyone at Op COURAGE is either from the armed forces community or has experienced working with serving personnel, reservists, veterans, and their families, who have experienced forms of mental health and trauma.
Website
www.nhs.uk/opcourageOp NOVA
Op NOVA provides one to one non-clinical support to veterans who are at risk of being arrested or already have been, are due to leave prison or have been released from prison. Veterans accessing the service have access to a range of practical and emotional help, along with being supported by an expert case worker.
Website
www.forcesemployment.org.uk/programmes/op-novaOp RESTORE
Op RESTORE provides care and treatment to those with a physical health condition or injury sustained as a result of service.
Located in 13 major trauma centres, the network works closely with Defence Medical Services, national centres of clinical expertise, Op COURAGE and military charities, to provide holistic care.
Access to Op RESTORE requires a GP referral by contacting the email address below.
Email
imperial.oprestore@nhs.net.
Website
www.nhs.uk/nhs-services/armed-forces-communityOut of hours and immediate support
Samaritans – freephone 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org – to access confidential emotional support for feelings of distress, despair or suicide thoughts.
Togetherall – a safe online service providing access to millions with anxiety, depression and other common mental health issues. Free for serving personnel, veterans, family members and carers.
Shout – a crisis text support service for people in the military community who are struggling and need immediate support to get through a crisis. Text CONTACT to 85258.
NHS 111 – to access medical help fast but when it’s not a 999 emergency, call 111 (available 24 hours).RAFA
The RAF Association is committed to supporting the RAF Family, whether currently serving, or former-serving, in a wide range of ways, delivering help and support where it is needed.
Phone
0300 102 1919
Website
www.rafa.org.uk
Email
advice@rafbf.org.ukRoyal British Legion – Veterans’ medical funds
The Royal British Legion’s Veterans’ Medical Funds programme provides support for veterans with hearing loss and serious physical injury.
Phone
0808 802 8080
Website
www.britishlegion.org.uk
Email
MedicalFunds@britishlegion.org.ukSSAFA
Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association provide lifelong support to those who are serving or have served in the British Army, Royal Navy, Royal Marines or the Royal Air Force, and to their families.
They have a branch in Gloucestershire
Phone
0800 731 4880
Website
www.ssafa.org.uk
www.ssafa.org.uk/gloucestershireVeteran Friendly GP Practice Accreditation
The Royal College of General Practitioners, supported by NHS England, are rolling out the veteran friendly GP practice accreditation scheme across England.
This scheme, which helps to ensure practices are equipped to best care for veterans and their families, has already accredited over 2,000 surgeries, including Berkeley Place Surgery.
Website
www.rcgp.org.uk/clinical-and-research/resourcesVeterans’ Gateway
The first point of contact for veterans seeking support.
Veterans’ Gateway put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support they need.
Phone
0808 802 1212
Text
81212
Website
www.veteransgateway.org.ukVeterans’ Personalised Care Programme
Veterans with a complex and life-long health condition may be eligible for the veterans personalised care programme.
Eligible individuals will have a single personalised care plan for all their health and wellbeing needs that is developed with them and a range of organisations, including health and social care and military charities.
To apply, individuals should contact their integrated care board.
Website
www.england.nhs.uk/personalisedcare/upc/ipc-for-veteransVeterans’ Prosthetics Panel (VPP)
The VPP provides funding on a named veteran basis to NHS Disablement Service Centre’s (DSC) to ensure that veterans who have service attributable limb loss can access high quality prosthetics regardless of which DSC they attend.
Website
www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/military-healthcare
