Local NHS Trust commits to better support for servicemen and women
Posted: 6 August 2024
Pictured are some of the Trust’s Veteran Aware Champions
and supporters
Members of the Armed Forces, veterans and reservists will not be disadvantaged when accessing healthcare at West Herts Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust thanks to its ‘Veteran Aware’ accreditation.
The Trust’s accreditation will benefit Hertfordshire’s military population which numbers nearly 26,000 veterans and 34,000 spouses and children, as well as Trust staff who hail from the Armed Forces community.
Families from a military background may experience frequent moves due to postings which makes it difficult to receive good continuity of care.
To overcome this challenge, the Trust will identify how many veterans, reservists and members of the Armed Forces use their services so they can provide the best and most appropriate care.
To support staff from a military background, the Trust has set up an Armed Forces Staff Network, providing access to specific Armed Forces wellbeing services, and will introduce an Armed Forces policy to reinforce its commitment to colleagues.
Dr Mike van der Watt, West Herts’ Chief Medical Officer and executive lead for the Veteran Aware programme said: "As someone who previously served in the Army, this accreditation is important to me personally.
"It’s vital that we ensure patients and colleagues from the Armed Forces community are not disadvantaged when accessing healthcare."
"Becoming accredited as Veteran Aware will reflect our commitment to our servicemen and women and recognises the important role we can play in better supporting those who have served their country."
Ends
- For media enquiries, please contact the communications team on: 01923 436280 or email: westherts.communications@nhs.net. For out of hours media enquiries please call the Watford General Hospital switchboard on 01923 244366 and ask for the on-call communications manager.
- West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust serves people from across Hertfordshire, north London and further afield. It operates from three hospitals: Watford General, St Albans City and Hemel Hempstead. The trust has a catchment area of over 500,000 people and is one of the largest employers locally, with around 5,000 staff and volunteers.
- For more information about our hospitals, visit the West Hertfordshire Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust's website. You can also join our followers on Twitter (twitter.com/westhertsNHS) and find us on Facebook (facebook.com/westhertsNHS).
