Armed Forces and Veterans

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The Armed Forces community

Royal National Orthopaedic Trust is committed to Armed Forces friendly policies and practices in employment and the delivery of our health care services.

The Trust understands, respects, and supports, the commitment and sacrifices that members of the Armed Forces community make to ensure the safety of this country, and we understand our moral duty to the community and our legal obligation to show due regard that no member of the community suffers disadvantage when accessing our services when compared to those not in the Armed Forces community.

As a Trust we understand the many and complex challenges that the Armed Forces community can face, and we strive to deliver services and offer employment opportunities with understanding, sensitivity, and support.

We are proud to host the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance which delivers the NHS Veteran Aware accreditation programme. This is a demonstration of our ongoing commitment to improving NHS care for veterans, reservists, members of the Armed Forces and their families.

Veteran Aware

We have a dedicated Armed Forces lead who champions Armed Forces community issues across the organisation, and we collaborate with local and national organisations to ensure we continue to learn from best practice so that we can progress in our journey as an Armed Forces friendly Trust.

Working for us

Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital has been awarded the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme Gold Award in recognition of our efforts in supporting and welcoming the Armed Forces community. This includes ex-Armed Forces, reservists, and their families, into work in the NHS.

We are increasing the visibility of our vacancies and employment offer through the Armed Forces specific recruitment websites.

We actively support mobilisation recognising the experiences it can bring back into the workplace by offering 10-days additional paid leave for reservists

Accessing our services

As part of our commitments and legal obligations we offer priority treatment to serving and former Armed Forces personnel where the injury or illness is the direct result of military service; this is based on clinical need. Your GP will make this recommendation, so please make them aware as they are undertaking the referral.

Please alert staff to your status as a member of the Armed Forces community so that this can be noted in your patient record. If you are not entitled to priority treatment, there may be services and organisations who may be able to support you in your treatment and recovery.

We also ensure that Armed Forces families are not disadvantaged. This may be due to moving areas and your place on the waiting list may be affected due this move if required by active military service. Please make us aware of these circumstances.

Armed Forces support services

You can find the details below for specific services for the Armed Forces community.

These include services for physical health and wellbeing, mental health and health for homelessness.

There is more information on support for disabled veterans, support for families, and financial support at on the NHS veterans service leavers non-mobilised reservists webpage.

DMWS support all members of the Armed Forces community across the services, including the Merchant Navy. Alongside this cohort, they also support to those in other frontline roles including the police and NHS staff.

Medical welfare is important where non-clinical issues, problems or social influences may be distracting someone from their recovery. As part of the Thrive Together London programme, a funded DMWS Officer is available in London to offer bespoke assessment and care pathways to support recovery in and out of hospital.

For clinical and self-referrals, please email: referrals@dmws.org.uk

The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service is a service for anyone who has served one day or more in the UK armed forces who has acquired a significant, lasting physical injury or illness as a result of their service.

Op RESTORE is accessible via GP referral only, and through a network of consultants and welfare support via military charities, takes a holistic approach to restoring health and wellbeing. For more information go to Op RESTORE: The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service | Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust

Op COURAGE is an NHS service supported by trained professionals who are from, or have experience of working with, the Armed Forces community. This service can help if you're finding life difficult after leaving the military. Working together with Armed Forces charities, Op COURAGE will help you get the right type of specialist care, support and treatment for your specific needs.

To find the details of Op COURAGE in your region, please visit Mental health support for veterans, service leavers and reservists - NHS

Op FORTITUDE is a new dedicated referral pathway for homeless veterans, including those sleeping on the streets.

The hotline is part of a two-year £8.55 million programme to fulfil the Government’s pledge to end veteran rough sleeping. The housing hotline, delivered by Riverside group, 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.

Veterans who are homeless or at risk of homelessness, and the organisations working with them, are encouraged to contact the Op FORTITUDE hotline on 0800 952 0774 or through a secure web portal at riv.org.uk/opfortitude.

Further information can be found at www.riverside.org.uk/care-and-support/veterans.

Little Troopers is a charity supporting children with one or both parents serving in the Armed Forces regulars or reserves.

Little Troopers offers a new therapy programme for children of Armed Forces families, this includes free one-to-one psychotherapy sessions, community therapy sessions for older children, and a new on demand session for adults on how to support their children at home. They also run a "Trooper of the Month" project, so if you know of a Little Trooper who should be celebrated, please nominate them today.

For more information go to https://www.littletroopers.net/little-troopers-therapy-programme.

Please visit the Armed Forces and Veterans site on Grapevine to learn more about the Armed Forces community, request training or speak to one of the leads. The VCHA also has a page on Future NHS with in-depth information on how you can support the Armed Forces community in your department.