Veteran Friendly Practice

Ireland Wood & Horsforth Medical Practice is a veteran friendly GP practices and veteran aware NHS trust.

Which is designed to better support you with your healthcare in many ways, including:

  • having medical staff with military healthcare backgrounds
  • having staff trained to treat health problems that commonly affect veterans
  • having knowledge of specialist NHS services designed specifically for members of the armed forces

Veteran Aware: Accredited NHS trusts map

Who counts as a veteran?

You are a veteran if you have served in the UK armed forces for at least 1 day.

Non-mobilised reservists are also regarded as veterans.

If you are a mobilised reservist registered with Defence Medical Services (DMS), find information about accessing NHS healthcare while in active service.

Help for service leavers

During and after your resettlement period, there are a number of actions you can take to help NHS and specialist veteran services support you.

The most important is to register with an NHS GP surgery and let them know you have served in the UK armed forces.

Find more information for service leavers

If you have not already, it’s important to tell your practice you served in the UK armed forces so we can add it to your medical record.

This includes the:

  • British Army
  • Royal Navy
  • Royal Air Force
  • Royal Marines
  • Merchant Navy

Registering as soon as you leave the armed forces instead of waiting until you need treatment means you may be able to access treatment faster.

When you are registered with an NHS GP surgery, it’s important to give them any information you received from your military medical officer.

This will help your GP to better understand your health, including any health problems related to your service. It will also help make sure you’re referred to dedicated services for veterans, where appropriate.

These services include Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service, and Op RESTORE: The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service.

It can sometimes be helpful to refer you to armed forces charities, who can often offer significant help and support. This will only be done with your agreement.

If you’re already registered with a GP but have not told them you served in the armed forces, make sure to let your GP or a member of the practice team know when you next speak to them.

This is important to do because it may be relevant to your health and care, now or in the future. It does not matter how long you served for or when you left the armed forces.

Do not worry about sharing information about your time in the armed forces. GPs, nurses and other people working in the NHS are bound by law to deliver a confidential service.

Mental health and wellbeing support

Veterans and their families and carers can access dedicated mental health support services run by the NHS and mental health charities.

These include:

Find out more about mental health support for veterans and families

Support for physical health problems caused by service

There are NHS services dedicated to treating and supporting veterans who have physical health problems caused by their time in the armed forces.

Op RESTORE: The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service

Op RESTORE: The Veterans Physical Health and Wellbeing Service is an NHS service providing specialist care and treatment to veterans who have physical health problems as a result of their time in the armed forces.

It works alongside Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service.

Support for disabled veterans

There are many different NHS, MOD and charity services dedicated to providing support and treatment to veterans with disabilities.

Disablement Service Centres (DSCs)

If you lost a limb during your service, Disablement Service Centres (DSCs) can offer specialist prosthetic and rehabilitation support.

You can be referred to a DSC during your regular medical treatment if the service will benefit you.

Speak to a GP for more information about DSCs.

Veteran’s Prosthetic Panel

If you need to apply for funding for a prosthetic limb, DSCs can apply to the Veteran’s Prosthetic Panel on your behalf.

You cannot apply for funding by yourself.

For the application to be considered, you must have either:

  • lost a limb during military service
  • lost a limb due to an injury caused during military service

Blesma

Blesma offer advice and support to veterans who have lost a limb, the use of a limb, an eye or use of sight during military service.

They work closely with NHS and MOD services for disabled veterans and can refer you to useful services.

They also offer advice on financial benefits and support, as well as helping you find appropriate community groups.

Find out more about Blesma

Blind Veterans UK

Veterans with sight loss can get help and support from Blind Veterans UK.

They offer a range of support, including rehabilitation services, practical advice and emotional support.

Find out more about Blind Veterans UK

Financial support

There are many organisations who offer financial advice and support to veterans and their families or carers.

This includes charities dedicated to supporting the armed forces community.

Veterans UK

Veterans UK is part of the MOD.

They provide free support for serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families, including:

  • an urgent helpline
  • running the Veterans Welfare Service and Defence Transition Services
  • helping access support from government, local and charity organisations
  • funding compensation scheme payments

GOV.UK: Find more information about Veterans UK

GOV.UK: Contact Veterans UK

Charity support

There are many charities dedicated to providing support, advice and aid for veterans and their families.

Many of these charities provide a range of help, including disability support, rehabilitation, self-help programmes, accessing services and further financial support.

Find more information about charities that can help veterans and their families

Sexual assault and abuse support

If you have been sexually assaulted or abused while in the armed forces or since you left the military, you can get help and advice from NHS services, including sexual assault referral centres (SARCs).

Help after rape and sexual assault

Support for families of veterans

There is a range of support and advice available for families of armed forces veterans and non-mobilised reservists.

This includes services and charities dedicated to helping you with any healthcare and welfare concerns.

Find more information about support for armed forces families