What is a Veteran?
A ‘Veteran’ – whether on Active Duty, Discharged, Retired or Reservist, is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank cheque made payable to ‘Queen and Country’ for an amount ‘ Up to and including their Life’. A former member of HM Armed Forces (HMAF), or a Merchant Navy seafarer or a fisherman who served in support of HMAF.
Albert Road Surgery has recently been awarded the Employer Recognition Scheme Silver Award for supporting Military Veterans. All Veterans registered here at our surgery will receive and have access to appropriate healthcare as per The Military Covenant. We commit to honour the Armed Forces Covenant and Support the Armed Forces Community. We recognise the value Serving Personnel, both regular and Reservists, Veterans and military families contribute to our business and our country.
The Military Covenant states ‘Veterans should receive priority treatment where it relates to a condition which results from their service in the Armed Forces, subject to clinical need’.
We are keen to support all Veterans and signpost to other services you may find useful too.
How to register as a former armed forces member
The Defence Medical Services (DMS) has its own GP services that look after serving personnel, mobilised reservists and some families.
Once you leave the armed forces, your primary healthcare (GP, dentist, etc.) reverts to the responsibility of your local NHS. This means you’ll have to register with a local GP in your area.
Make sure you let the practice know that you’re a veteran. Depending on your circumstances, you may be entitled to specialist care or support.
All veterans are entitled to priority access to NHS hospital care for any condition as long as it’s related to your service and is clinically necessary, regardless of whether or not you receive a war pension.
When you leave the armed forces, you should be given a summary of your medical records. You should pass those on to your new GP when you register.
The practice will also be advised of prior registration with Defence Medical Services and be given a summary of your in-service care.
More information on the duty of care owed to service personnel is contained in the armed forces covenant (PDF, 919kb).
Find out more about healthcare for the armed forces community.
Local Support:
Useful info and websites:
NHS Veterans Mental Health leaflet
NHS website – top tips for veterans
VWALS Veterans Wellbeing Assessment and Liaison Service
TILS Patient Information Leaflet-2022
Serving personnel: rehabilitation services
Welfare organisations
Royal British Legion
The charity helps armed forces personnel, reservists, veterans and their families all year round. They also campaign to improve lives and remember the fallen, as well as organising the Poppy Appeal.
https://www.britishlegion.org.uk/
SSAFA
A charity that provides lifelong emotional and practical support for active and veteran armed forces personnel and reservists, and their families.
Help for Heroes
The Help for Heroes charity provides direct practical support to wounded, injured and sick service personnel and veterans, and their families.
https://www.helpforheroes.org.uk/
The Soldiers’ Charity
The charity provides financial assistance to soldiers in need and their families, covering debt relief, mobility assistance, education bursaries, care home fees and respite breaks.
Blesma
The limbless veterans’ charity supports all armed forces personnel who have lost limbs, the use of limbs or their eyesight in service.
Defence Medical Welfare Service (DMWS)
A charity providing practical and emotional support to military personnel, their families and other entitled civilians when they are in hospital, rehabilitation or recovery centres.
Defence and National Rehabilitation Centre (DNRC)
DNRC at Headley Court
Tel: 01372 378 271
Battle Back at Headley Court
Tri-service sports and adventure training
Tel: 01372 378 271 ext 7042/7073
Regional Rehabilitation Units (RRUs)
Aldergrove
Telephone: 028 944 6117
Military: 9491 56117
Aldershot
Tel: 01252 340 722
Mil: 94222 5722
Bulford
Tel: 01980 672 709
Mil: 94321 2610
Catterick
Tel: 01748 873 786
Mil: 94731 3786
Colchester
Tel: 0120 681 7125
Mil: 94660 7124
Cranwell
Tel: 01400 266 382
Mil: 95751 6382
Edinburgh
Tel: 0131 310 5599
Mil: 94748 5599
Halton
Tel: 01296 656 080
Mil: 95237 6080
Honnington
Tel: 01359 236 994
Mil: 95991 6996
Litchfield
Tel: 01543 434 108
Mil: 94422 4348
London (Headley Court)
Tel: 01372 378 271 Mil: 95238 7290
Plymouth
Tel: 01752 557 126
Mil: 93756 7126
Portsmouth
Tel: 02392 720 842
Mil: 9380 20847