Veteran Aware Trust

Supporting patients and families as a Veteran Aware Trust

We are proud to be a Veteran Aware Trust, accredited by the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), to acknowledge our commitment to a number of key pledges including:

• Training relevant staff on veteran specific culture or needs
• Ensuring that the armed forces community is never disadvantaged compared to other patients, in line with the NHS’s commitment to the Armed Forces Covenant
• Providing information to ensure that veterans, reservist and service families are aware of appropriate charities or NHS services beneficial to them. For example mental health services or support with financial and/or benefit claims
• Supporting the armed forces as an employer.

For children and young people visiting Alder Hey, please let us know if parents have ever served in the UK armed forces so that we can best support your care needs. We are developing a Special Indicator flag within our new Alderc@re electronic health record system so veteran status is captured and clearly visible in the patient record.

For families moving location your current position in the Referral to Treatment (RTT) pathway will be maintained. All veterans and their family are entitled to priority access to NHS care (including hospital, primary or community care) for conditions associated with their time in the armed forces (service-related). Alder Hey will support veterans to access specific health services, such as those for mental health, hearing loss, limb amputation and wheelchairs. Please note this is always subject to clinical need and will not entitle you to be prioritised ahead of someone with a greater clinical need.

Services Providing Help and Support

The Veterans’ Gateway is a first point of contact for veterans and your families, and can put you in touch with both national and local organisations best placed to help with the information, advice and support you may need.

The Veterans’ Gateway can be contacted 24/7 by telephone (0808 802 1212), by text (81212) or online at www.veteransgateway.org.uk

Armed Forces Covenant is the nation’s commitment to support those who are currently serving or have served in the armed forces and their families. This website provides useful links to support and advice including financial, housing, education, training and employment plus lots more https://www.armedforcescovenant.gov.uk/support-and-advice/veterans/

SSAFA Merseyside is the Armed forces charity that provides lifelong support to those who are serving or have served in any of the UK Armed Forces.

Contact by telephone on 0800 260 6767, email merseyside.branch@ssafa.org.uk 
Website https://www.ssafa.org.uk/merseyside