Tell your GP you served and improve access to specialist care, veterans urged

A campaign has been launched to help improve veterans' access to healthcare services and funding for mobility equipment.

The campaign is also encouraging more GP surgeries to sign up to the veteran-friendly accreditation scheme, so the NHS is better able to identify and signpost veterans to receive specialist care. 

It is believed there are more than 1.85 million veterans living in the UK, and those injured while in service may be entitled to grants from the Veteran Mobility Fund (VMF), which will remain open for five years.

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The funding is being made available to support veterans with physical disabilities through grants that can be used to purchase mobility equipment not usually available to the NHS.

Minister for Veterans' Affairs Johnny Mercer said: "It is really important to tell your GP that you served so you can access all the veteran-specific support services you are entitled to. 

"I want to encourage any veterans to come forward and to seek help. We stand ready to support our veterans."

It is hoped that raising awareness will mean more veterans being referred to veteran mental and physical healthcare programmes, such as Op RESTORE and Op COURAGE: The Veterans Mental Health and Wellbeing Service. 

The £2.52m Veteran Mobility Fund is being administered by military charities Help for Heroes and Blesma, through the Office for Veterans' Affairs (OVA) and the Armed Forces Covenant Trust Fund.

Veterans in receipt of a War Pension or an award from the Armed Forces Compensation Scheme may also be eligible for a grant.

Kate Davies, National Director for Armed Forces Health, NHS England, said: "It's really important that veterans who need treatment and support get the help they need and the best way to do this is to register with a GP practice and tell them you've served.

"Along with helping to ensure that veterans get the support that's right for them, this means that GPs and other healthcare professionals can better understand any health problems, particularly those related to a person's time in the Armed Forces."  

She went on to say, "My message to veterans is that it's never too late to tell your GP practice you've served; it doesn't matter how long you served for or when you left the Armed Forces, sharing this information may be relevant to your health and care, now or in the future, and the NHS is here for you."

Eligible veterans can apply for grants or equipment to help with their mobility needs, from 12 March 2024.

More information on the Veterans Mobility Fund can be found at helpforheroes.org.uk/veteransmobilityfund.