All GP practices in England will receive training on how best to support veterans of war, the Government has announced.
Covering mental health services in addition to GP practices, the training programme will cost £1.8m, starting in October this year and completing by 2027/28.
Announced on the 80th anniversary of VE Day, the new three-year programme will see regional trainers work with GP practices to help establish practices to identify veterans, serving personnel and their families and provide ‘targeted’ care.
Armed forces staff can require specialist care for combat injuries as well as mental health support for conditions such as post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and depression, the Department of Health said. It also highlighted that many may fail to self-identify and therefore risk missing out on bespoke services.
The training will help practices ‘identify and support’ patients with military backgrounds and ’embed this support into their services’, the Government said, which will also help ICBs deliver their statutory responsibilities under the Armed Forces Covenant.
Health and social care secretary Wes Streeting said: ‘As we mark the 80th anniversary of VE Day, we’re honouring our Armed Forces not just with words, but with action.
‘Too many veterans face a system that doesn’t fully understand their needs – that changes today.
‘This new training programme will help NHS staff across England give our veterans the personalised care they deserve. Through our Plan for Change the NHS will deliver for those who have delivered for Britain.’
The RCGP has worked for several years with the Armed Forces Network to establish a network of veteran-friendly GP practices. By 2023, over three quarters of PCNs had at least one practice accredited by the scheme.
