We’re proud to share that our practice is now officially Veteran-Friendly Accredited. This means we’ve been recognised by the Royal College of General Practitioners (RCGP) and NHS England for our commitment to offering the best possible care and support to veterans and their families.
What Does ‘Veteran-Friendly’ Mean?
If you’ve served in the UK Armed Forces – even just for one day – you’re considered a veteran. We understand that military service can affect your health in unique ways, and we want to make sure you feel recognised, understood, and supported whenever you visit us.
Becoming veteran-friendly means we have taken steps to:
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Identify veterans: We now routinely ask new patients if they have served, and ensure this is recorded in their records.
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Offer tailored care: We have a trained Veteran Clinical Lead, Dr Mark Salisbury, who stays up to date with relevant services and support options. He is joined by our non-clinical lead, SJ Martin.
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Provide better signposting: We can refer you to a range of NHS and specialist veteran services to support both your physical and mental wellbeing.
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Support the Armed Forces Covenant, which means we are committed to making sure veterans and their families are not disadvantaged when it comes to accessing healthcare.
Why It Matters
We know that many veterans don’t always talk about their time in the Forces or may find it difficult to seek help – especially for issues linked to service. By being open about our veteran-friendly status, we hope to make it easier for you to speak to us and get the care you need.
In a national survey, over 60% of veterans said they’d be more likely to reach out for help if they knew their GP practice understood their background. We want to make sure that if you’ve served, we can give you the right support – and if needed, refer you to dedicated services that specialise in veteran health.
Specialist Support We Can Help You Access
As a veteran-friendly practice, we can now more easily connect you with dedicated NHS services, including:
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Op COURAGE – Support for veterans struggling with mental health, including PTSD, anxiety, depression, and addiction. You can self-refer or ask us to refer you.
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Op RESTORE – Help with physical health problems resulting from your service. We can refer you directly.
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Op NOVA – Non-clinical support for veterans who may be involved with, or at risk of entering, the criminal justice system.
These services work in partnership with the NHS, military charities, and Defence Medical Services to offer holistic, expert care.
If You’re a Veteran – Let Us Know
If you’ve served in the British Armed Forces, please tell us – even if it was many years ago. It helps us to better understand your needs and ensure your service is recognised in your care.
We’re here for you – whether you need support now, or just want to know that your GP practice understands where you’re coming from.
To learn more about veteran healthcare services, visit
👉 www.nhs.uk/armedforceshealth
