Armed forces community
Devon has a proud military and supporting heritage and has one of the highest concentrations of military bases in the country – the Royal Navy, Royal Marines and Army all have a significant presence across the whole county.
You are a member of the armed forces community if you:
- Currently serve in the armed forces – either as a regular or a reserve
- A veteran who served in the armed forces – either as a regular or a reserve
- A member of the Merchant Navy who served on a commercial vessel in support of legally defined UK military operations
- A dependant – for example, the partner or child of someone who’s currently serving in the armed forces, a veteran or a member of the Merchant Navy.
The health systems in Devon are well-placed to support the armed forces community, striving to meet the Armed Forces Covenant requirements.
- Members of the armed forces community should enjoy the same standard of, and access to, healthcare as received by any other UK citizen in the area where they live
- Personnel injured on operations should be treated in conditions which recognise the specific needs of Service personnel
- Family members should retain their relative position on any NHS waiting list, if moved around the UK due to the Service person being posted
- Veterans should receive priority treatment, subject to the clinical needs of others, in respect of NHS secondary healthcare relating to a condition resulting from their service in the armed forces
- Veterans should be able to access mental health professionals who have an understanding of the armed forces culture.
This is reflected in the NHS Constitution, which states:
‘The NHS will ensure that in line with the Armed Forces Covenant, those in the Armed Forces, reservists, their families and veterans are not disadvantaged in accessing health services in the area they reside’.
The local health systems have all signed-up to the Covenant and work with local authorities plan and deliver the right services required for patients.
Accessing NHS healthcare – Veterans
Veterans receive their healthcare from the NHS and should receive priority treatment where it relates to a condition which results from their service in the Armed Forces, subject to clinical need.
Who is considered a veteran?
A veteran is anyone who has served for at least one day in the Armed Forces, whether regular or reserve. It means the same as ‘ex service personnel’. Recording this status (and their families/carers) will enable context-aware support and allow appropriate services to be identified – see the links – and wider carers’ support, charitable input or social care packages.
What services are available?
For most health needs, our local services are well-placed to provide excellent care. Most veterans leave their service time healthy, well and looking forward to their new lives. For a few, with more service-related complicated or specialist issues, a range of dedicated physical and mental health services are available. The links have those details for you.
Referral Pathway for Veterans
At your GP, Dental or Optician’s appointment, your clinician may discuss with you the possibility of a referral for a specialist opinion.
If your healthcare professional decides to seek a specialist opinion, they will submit a referral for you electronically. Referrers should make it clear within the referral that the patient is a member of the Armed Forces Community.
If your referral is related to a condition which results from your service, your chosen provider can review your referral with a view to expediting it as per your constitutional right. This review is always subject to clinical need and doesn’t entitle you to jump the queue ahead of someone with a higher clinical need.
To find out more about the referral pathway, please click here.
Healthcare for the Armed Forces Community
Click here to see how the NHS can help if you’re in the British armed forces, a veteran or a family member of someone who is serving or who has served.
If you receive specialist healthcare treatment or are medically discharged, it is important to ask a medical officer about how you can continue your treatment after your discharge date.
There are services who can provide support and treatment to you during your discharge period and after your discharge date. These include:
- Op RESTORE: the Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service
- Op COURAGE: the Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
Mental Health support
- Devon Partnership Trust – DPT provide a Veterans Service which supports veterans who are concerned about their mental health.
- Veterans Gateway – Veterans Gateway is an NHS service which provides specialist care for those Armed forces veterans suffering from a mental health crisis.
- If you need immediate mental health support, please click here.
Finding support locally and nationally
Veterans Change Partnership Hub
The Veterans Change Partnership Hub is a one stop shop for all members of the armed forces community. They offer rapid access to:
- Bespoke employment and training information and advice
- Bespoke personalised support, mentoring and coaching
- Access to RBL Case Officer Service
- Access to RBL advice and information surgeries
- Access to RBL specialist services – Outreach officer service, War pensions and Armed Forces Compensation scheme (AFCS) advisor service – support with appeals.
- Access to SSAFA & RBL Home visiting casework service, for currently serving, those who have served their families and dependant
- Links and positive relationships with many other organisations, including NHS services, accommodation providers and employment courses
- Similarly, a close working relationship has grown with Help for Heroes (H4H). Seen as a partner organisation, the Hub is utilised as an outreach office to engage wounded, injured and sick (WIS) veterans, linking with the Recovery Centre, Endeavour House, HMS Drake, Plymouth and their Band of Brothers/Sisters projects.
Veterans Gateway put veterans and their families in touch with the organisations best placed to help with the advice and support they need. They are available 24/7 and act as a first point of contact for all welfare needs: from healthcare and housing to employability, and more.
Devon Forces Family provides information for anyone who has ever served in any branch of the armed forces and is now living in Devon or is planning to move here. They provide help with health, housing, employment, education, money, leaving prison, leisure, and information for families.