GP practices now recognised as 'veteran friendly'

GP practices have signed up to a programme to improve healthcare for armed forces veterans.

All practitioners in Somerset will receive extra training to help them to identify and understand patients' needs so they can be referred to the most suitable NHS services.

As part of the programme accredited by the Royal College of GPs, veterans can also attend monthly outreach sessions or go along to two of the armed forces hubs.

Terri Underwood, Armed Forces lead for NHS in Somerset, said: "Having a safe space where veterans can meet, chat about old times but also feel comfortable to share things that might be distressing for the general public or people who have not served, is really important."

In the outreach sessions, veterans are also offered advice around health issues, housing and finances.

Underwood hopes that now GPs across Somerset are veteran friendly, services will become more "seamless".

She says it can be hard for former military people to settle back into society after leaving the forces and hopes that it will help that now GPs have signed up to the programme.

Underwood said: "When you're serving in the military, you have a very close bond with your brothers and sisters and so for many, when they leave they really miss that connection and support."

Kevin Connor, attends the monthly outreach service in Wellington and thinks it is good that practices have signed up to the programme but feels one of the biggest obstacles veterans face within the heath system comes down to a "lack of communication".

Connor said: "We can talk about being veterans but if medical centres and hospitals don't keep emphasising the importance of this to their staff, then it slips through the system.

"If they're not military orientated then they don't tend to appreciate the problems that veterans have, such as PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder)."

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