Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance

Email: rnoh.vcha@nhs.net
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Background

In 2014, Professor Tim Briggs CBE, wrote The Chavasse Report on improving armed forces and veteran care while raising NHS standards. His report, based on findings from his original orthopaedic GIRFT visits, recommended establishing a support network of hospitals. The resulting Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) works closely with NHS England & Improvements, service charities and the Ministry of Defence.

With the introduction in 2012 of The Armed Forces Covenant and enshrined by law into the Armed Forces Bill, all NHS providers will need to meet the requirements of this new legislation. Veteran Aware accreditation will support meeting these legal requirements and already a number of NHS providers are Veteran Aware accredited as exemplars of provision of the best care for veterans and their families and ensure that they afford no disadvantage in the care they receive. These providers work to helping to drive improvements in NHS care for people who serve or have served in the UK armed forces and their families. You can see our map of Veteran Aware accredited providers here. 

VCHA is hosted by the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital and in partnership with NHS England and Improvement’s Armed Forces Commissioning.

Ambition

Our ambition is to accredit all NHS providers in England as Veteran Aware by November 2022. We continue to guide and support our trusts to achieve accreditation. This involves providers sharing good practice in linking with local services for the Armed Forces Community and raising staff awareness of the Armed Forces Covenant. The Armed Forces Bill alongside NHS England’s commitment to the Armed Forces Community forward view will ensure that Veterans Healthcare is exemplary. During 2021 we will also be exploring whether other providers of healthcare can also work towards accreditation for example hospices and the Independent Sector.

What is involved in becoming Veteran Aware?

If you would like to know more about becoming a Veteran Aware accredited provider you will find all the information you need on this website or you can contact your Regional Lead with any questions or via our central email: rnoh.vcha@nhs.net

The NHS Commitment to Armed Forces

The NHS in England is committed to raising standards among healthcare providers of Veterans’ services.  The Armed Forces Covenant health commitments are included in the NHS Constitution and Mandates and form part of the contract with every NHS commissioned provider.  This helps to ensure all healthcare professionals will be considerate of these services

Healthcare for the Armed Forces community: a forward view is seen as a companion document to the NHS Long Term Plan (LTP) and outlines the commitments NHS England & Improvement is making to improve the health and wellbeing of the Armed Forces community. Healthcare for the Armed Forces community reflects the emergent priorities and changes the NHS has made from the We are the NHS: People plan 2020/21.

Contributing to the commitment made in the Armed Forces Covenant

The Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA) is a group of NHS providers, including acute, mental health, community, and ambulance trusts that have volunteered to be exemplars of the best care for and support to the armed forces community.

The Veteran Aware model will encourage providers to identify those patients who currently work or have worked in the military as well as service families, to ensure they are not disadvantaged in the care they receive and were possible receive personalised care and improve patient outcomes.

What is involved in becoming Veteran Aware?

If you would like to know more about becoming a Veteran Aware accredited provider you will find all the information you need on this website or you can contact your Regional Lead with any questions or via our central mailbox: rnoh.vcha@nhs.net.

Click to view the
NHS Veteran Aware Accredited Provider Map >

Veteran Aware hospitals will help provide integrated care and a single source of advice to veterans on the support available to them and I want to see this initiative rolled out across the country.
Matt Hancock
Matt HancockSecretary of State for Health and Social Care
I am delighted that a second wave of our top hospitals has joined the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance. Although the British Armed Forces are not currently engaged in high profile campaigns such as in Iraq and Afghanistan in recent years, the health and wellbeing battles for many veterans continue. The VCHA is playing a major part in helping our brave veterans win their personal battles.
General Lord Richard Dannatt
General Lord Richard DannattPatron of the VCHA and former head of the British Army
Becoming Veteran Aware is a fantastic achievement for these providers, which will exemplar the best standards of care for veterans. It is just the beginning, every NHS hospital will be invited to join the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance and become Veteran Aware. We hope to achieve accreditation for all providers by November 2022, bringing to fruition the ambitions set out in my Chavasse report in 2014.
Professor Tim Briggs
Professor Tim BriggsChair of the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance, National Director of Clinical Improvement and Chair, GIRFT Programme.
The strong partnership between the MoD and the NHS highlights our commitment to the through-life care of our service personnel and veterans. The Veteran Aware scheme is a fantastic initiative that will ensure the particular needs of the Armed Forces community are at the heart of their care.
Lieutenant General Martin Bricknell
Lieutenant General Martin BricknellSurgeon General
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