75 Years On: The Welfare Officers Supporting Veterans

Veterans gather at a cafe to talk more openly amongst themselves (Picture: Suzanne Fernando).

A service that provides vital support to the Armed Forces community is marking its 75th anniversary.

The Defence Medical Welfare Service has spent the last seven decades helping the NHS give treatment and aftercare to serving personnel and veterans.

Defence Welfare Officers are out in the community every day to support during treatments in hospital and in providing aftercare services.

Emma Gration, Defence Welfare Officer says they help veterans get out and about more:

“Quite often you find that that veterans might be a bit isolated – they don’t really have any family or friends.

“We can put them in touch with different organisations that can help them to get out and about a bit more and to introduce them to other veterans groups.”

Ms Gration added that they also help them get to hospital appointments if they’re on their own.

Martin McArthur spent 30 years in the RAF, and he has been using the services since his wife passed away.

Amongst veterans isolation can be a major problem – especially after bereavement.

Welfare Officers routinely take Mr McArthur to meet other veterans within the community.

He said: “Emma has looked after me, taken care of me and pushed me along to keep me going.

“My wife passed away just a few weeks ago – Emma has been a great support since then."

As well as getting former servicemen and woman out of their homes, the welfare officers also make home trips to check on them.

Jimmy McBreen served with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in the Korean War and has regular visits to make sure he’s getting the right medical care.

Mr McBreen said he had waited months for an appointment but Emma was able to get him one to adapt his home to meet his medical requirements.