Service and care: the Healthcare Journey of the Armed Forces Community
Download (PDF 884.29 KB)Summary of report content
Healthwatch Hertfordshire was commissioned by the Hertfordshire and West Essex ICS to undertake research on the healthcare needs of the armed forces community. They spoke to 19 people and undertook a website audit of GPs and NHS trusts to explore how well healthcare providers signpost and support the armed forces community.
Key findings
Veterans, reservists, serving personnel and military families shared their stories of accessing healthcare, and how the NHS could improve the support they receive.
Mental health services lacked understanding of the unique experiences of this community. We also heard the negative impact serving in the armed forces had on their mental health and the difficulties in accessing support. Others had a stoic attitude and were reluctant to accept help.
Healthcare professionals need more training, knowledge and understanding of the armed forces community. Many felt they experienced the same issues in accessing NHS services as the civilian population, however some veterans shared difficulties receiving priority treatment despite being applicable.
NHS services need to provide more signposting and support to the armed forces community. Many had not received any signposting from NHS services and were not aware of the Veteran Friendly or Veteran Aware accreditation schemes. They also felt NHS services should provide information about navigating the NHS, and ensuring military families are aware of the help available to them.
GP practices need to be proactive in identifying members of the armed forces. Many had not informed their GP practice or their military background and/or did not know if this information was on their patient records.
The NHS and the military need to work more effectively together. Veterans and reservists shared the challenges they faced in obtaining their medical records and emphasised the need for better collaboration between the NHS and the military.
GP practice and NHS Trust websites need to have more information available for this community. 40% of Veteran Friendly GP practices had no information on their website about registering as a member of the armed forces community and 45% had no signposting. NHS Trusts also had very limited information available on their websites.