As part of the East Lindsey Primary Care Network some of our GP practices are accredited Veteran Friendly GP Practices

Being accredited helps to ensures that healthcare providers are trained to understand and address the unique needs of veterans, who may have experienced physical, psychological, and emotional challenges during their service. This specialised knowledge can lead to better diagnosis, treatment, and support for conditions commonly faced by veterans, such as PTSD, chronic pain, and service-related injuries.

When individuals leave the UK Armed Forces, it’s important for them to register with an NHS GP practice and tell them they’ve served. This means their GP can better understand their health, particularly any health problems relating to their time in Service. Not all veterans share this information though, meaning some may not be getting the support that is right for them, particularly in terms of benefitting from care and treatment from dedicated services, such as: 

Op COURAGE:  The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

and Op RESTORE:.  The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service.

NHS England, together with the Office for Veterans’ Affairs, is running a campaign to encourage veterans to let their GP practice know they have served in the UK Armed Forces; it’s important to ‘say you served’. It does not matter how long someone served for or when they left the Armed Forces, it’s important that veterans let their GP surgery know this information, as it may be relevant to their health and care, now or in the future.

To find out more, visit www.nhs.uk/veterans