Veterans

We're a Veteran Friendly Service

As a ‘veteran friendly’ accredited practice we aim to deliver the best possible care and treatment for patients who have served in the armed forces.

We are working to identify our veteran patients, so if you have ever served in the military, please inform reception.

We aim to make sure veterans and their families are not disadvantaged in accessing services as set out in the Armed Forces Covenant.

We can refer to specialist services for veterans, including mental health support, during the transition and in the case of issues occurring years later. We can also signpost to a number of organisations and charities for ongoing support.

• It is important to register with a GP, rather than wait until you need treatment.
• If you've recently left the forces, it is important to give your GP the paperwork that your military medical centre gave you, including any medical records.
• Regardless of when you left the military, tell your GP that you've served in the UK armed forces. This will help your GP understand any military related health conditions and refer you to the most appropriate services.
• You may be worried about sharing information about your time in the Armed Forces. Please note that the NHS is bound by a confidentiality code of practice to ensure ALL practice staff deliver a confidential service bound by law.

We are an Armed Forces veteran friendly accredited GP practice

Top Tips for Veterans

Veteran Patient Charter

Armed Forces Network - Single Point of Contact

The Armed Forces Network for Sussex and Kent and Medway has launched a single point of contact, afn.admin@nhs.net and 01273 403693, to support people, family members and carers of the armed forces community who are serving or have served.

The service, which is available Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, can provide advice, guidance and support on how to use the NHS, advise on veteran-friendly GP practices in the local area, signpost to social prescribing support and more.

For serving personnel, veterans and armed forces families.

The Royal British Legion gives advice and support on wellbeing on their website and through their community branches. For additional advice and support, the Royal British Legion also have an online chat and helpline that is open 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.

The Royal British Legion Website

Helpline: 08088028080

For serving personnel, veterans and armed forces families.

The charity Combat Stress provides self help advice on their website. They offer mental health helplines for 24/7 confidential advice and support.

Combat Stress website

Veterans and their families helpline: 0800 138 1619

Serving personnel and their families helpline: 0800 323 4444

You can also text on 07537173683 and email helpline@combatstress.org.uk

For women veterans who are survivors of military sexual trauma and their families.

Salute Her UK provides a support service which offers mental health therapy and interventions for women survivors of military sexual trauma in a single sex environment.

Salute Her UK website

For LGBT+ serving personnel, veterans and their families.

Fighting with Pride advise on how to get help and provide information for LGBT+ members of the armed forces community.

Fighting with Pride website

Find mental health help and support for the armed forces community.

Mental health problems are common and can affect anyone, including veterans, serving personnel, reservists and their families. It is important to get help and support if you or someone you know has mental health problems.

Find Mental Health Support

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.

For services in Sussex, Surrey or Kent, call 020 3317 6818 or email veteransservice@candi.nhs.uk

For the Op COURAGE urgent care and support service, call 02394 387 924 or email snhs.veteranshis.se@nhs.net

Veterans across the UK will have access to Op FORTITUDE, a new dedicated referral pathway for homeless veterans, including those sleeping on the streets. The housing hotline, delivered by Riverside, will give homeless veterans a single point of contact to get them the help they need. Op FORTITUDE staff will refer callers to a network of support, including housing providers, charities, and local authorities. The programme aims to support 1,300 veterans over two years across almost sixty housing complexes, ranging from apartment blocks to shared houses. Veterans can access the scheme through a dedicated helpline on 01748 833797.

The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service – the new name for the Veterans Trauma Network (VTN)

After a review and engagement with veterans, providers, and charities over several months, the decision was made to rename the VTN as Op RESTORE. This is a service for anyone who has served at least one day in the UK Armed Forces and, because of their service, acquired a significant
and lasting physical illness or injury.

Op RESTORE will continue to accept only GP referrals.