Armed Forces Veteran Friendly GP Practice

We are an Armed Forces Veteran Friendly Accredited GP Practice.

This means we have a dedicated clinician with specialist knowledge of:

health conditions related to military service
NHS services for veterans
support available for former members of the UK Armed Forces

If you have served in the UK Armed Forces, including as a reservist, please tell us. This helps us make sure you receive the care, treatment and support that are right for you.

Our commitment to veterans

The NHS is committed to supporting the health and wellbeing of veterans. We are proud to support this commitment and will work with you to provide the best possible care.

When you register with us or attend an appointment, you can expect us to:

Ask whether you have served in the UK Armed Forces as a regular or reservist.
Record your veteran status in your medical record, with your permission.
Ask about your military service if it is relevant to your health and care.
Keep the information you share confidential. We will always ask for your consent before sharing it with other healthcare services, unless we are legally required to do so.
Offer you an appointment with our clinical lead for veterans’ health, who has specialist knowledge of military-related health conditions and veteran support services.
Explain your care and treatment options so you can make informed decisions.
Refer you to specialist veteran health services where appropriate and with your consent.
Tell other healthcare services that you are a veteran, with your permission, so you do not have to repeat your medical and service history unnecessarily.
Offer advice and support to your family or carers if your health condition affects them.
Listen to any concerns or complaints you have about your care and investigate them fairly.

Additional resources

Click each heading below to find out more about different ways that you can access support.

Get the most from your GP practice

If you have recently left the UK Armed Forces, give your GP the documents provided by your military medical centre, including your medical records. This helps us to:

transfer your military medical record to your NHS record
understand your medical history
continue any ongoing treatment or care without unnecessary delays

Even if you left the Armed Forces many years ago, tell your GP that you served. This information helps us:

understand any health conditions that may be related to your military service
refer you to specialist veteran services if appropriate

Specialist NHS services for veterans

Veterans can access specialist NHS services for physical and mental health, including:

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service
Veterans Trauma Network

These services are provided by professionals who:

understand military life and the Armed Forces community
have experience supporting serving personnel, reservists, veterans and their families
work with you to identify the right care, treatment and support
work closely with military charities and other organisations to support your overall health and wellbeing

Support from Armed Forces charities

There are several Armed Forces charities that may be able to provide you support.

These include:

These organisations offer a wide range of support. Although they do not all provide healthcare, they can often help with wellbeing, finances, housing, employment and other issues.

Accessing support from your Council

Your council may be able to provide you with support. This can cover issues including:

housing
debt
employment and training

Visit your council’s website for more information:

Op Courage – The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service

OpCourage logo

Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service provides specialist care and support for those due to leave the armed forces, reservists and those who’ve already left. Developed by veterans, for veterans, Op COURAGE is available across England.

Cumbria, Northumberland, Tyne and Wear NHS Foundation Trust is the lead provider of Op COURAGE for the North of England. We work in partnership with Pennine Care NHS FT, Leeds and York Partnership NHS FT, Humber Teaching NHS FT, Tees, Esk and Wear Valleys NHS FT, Walking With The Wounded, and Combat Stress.

Veterans can self-refer, or be referred by a family member, a third sector organisation or their GP.

Tel: 0300 373 33 32

Email: OpCourageNORTH@cntw.nhs.uk

The service is available 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week.

Visit the Op Courage NORTH website for more information.

Op Restore – veterans physical health and wellbeing service

Op Restore is the veterans physical health and wellbeing service for those who have served in the UK Armed Forces and is the new name for Veterans Trauma Network (VTN). Op Restore accepts referrals from GP practices. If you think you would benefit, please speak to the practice.

Op Restore can help if:

You have served at least one day in the UK Armed Forces
You are soon to leave or are in the process of leaving the UK Armed Forces
You have sustained a physical health injury that was attributable to your time in Service regardless of when that happened
You have ongoing medical problems related to the physical injury sustained in Service
We have received a clinical referral from your GP

Find out more

If you would like more information or would like to tell us about your military service, please speak to one of our GPs, nurses or a member of the practice team.