The VCHA is inspired by the heroism of Captain Noel Godfrey Chavasse VC with bar, MC, a doctor who gave his life rescuing men on the battlefields of the First World War. In 2014, leading orthopaedic surgeon Professor Tim Briggs CBE wrote The Chavasse Report on improving Armed Forces and Veteran care, which recommended establishing a support network of hospitals and raising standards. The resulting VCHA works closely with NHS England and NHS Improvement, service charities and the Ministry of Defence.
Each healthcare provider commits to a number of key pledges including supporting the Armed Forces community as an employer, training relevant staff on veteran specific culture or needs, and making veterans, reservists and service families aware of appropriate charities or NHS services beneficial to them, such as mental health services or support with financial or benefit claims.
Since the team of dedicated Veteran Covenant Healthcare Alliance Regional Leads commenced in post in January we have 7 Acute Hospital Trusts, 2 Mental Health Trusts and 3 Ambulance Trusts each achieving Veteran Aware status. They are:
North West Region
Tameside & Glossop ICO NHS Foundation Trust
Manchester University Trust NHS Foundation Trust
East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust
North East & Yorkshire
South West Yorkshire Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Cumbria Northumberland Tyne & Wear NHS Foundation Trust
North East Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Midlands
West Midlands Ambulance Service NHS Trust
Nottingham University Hospital NHS Trust
East of England
East of England Ambulance Service NHS Trust
The Queen Elizabeth Hospital King’s Lynn NHS Foundation Trust
South East
Surrey & Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospital Southampton NHS Foundation Trust
University Hospitals of North Midlands NHS Trust (Midlands)
These providers join a growing number of NHS healthcare providers achieving the VCHA accreditation, with a total of 68 NHS Trusts now having received the accolade.
Professor Briggs, NHS National Director for Clinical Improvement and co-chair of the VCHA, said: “These trusts should be very proud of the commitment they have made to the service men and women of this country. Welcoming them into the VCHA is a major step towards our aim of ensuring every NHS provider in the country is Veteran Aware”.
If your NHS organisation is interested in signing up to the Veteran Aware Accreditation programme please contact the VCHA via rnoh.vcha@nhs.net.
Your details and queries will be passed to the appropriate Regional lead for response.
