Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust (SASH) has re-pledged its commitment to the armed forces community by officially signing the Armed Forces Covenant at an event on Friday 19 May 2023.

The Covenant, which is part of a national promise to help improve and drive forward care and best practice for current and former members of the armed forces, was signed by Chief Executive Angela Stevenson alongside SASH Armed Forces executive lead, Anouska Adamson-Parks.

On Friday the Trust also received its Veteran Aware accreditation from the Veterans Covenant Healthcare Alliance (VCHA), in recognition of its commitment to improving NHS care for veterans, reservists, and members of the armed forces and their families.

Professor Tim Briggs CBE, NHS National Director for Clinical Improvement in NHS England, VCHA National Lead and Honorary Colonel of 202 Midlands Field Hospital, said:

“Veteran Aware accreditation means that Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust has made a huge commitment to those who currently serve, be they regular or reserve, those who have served (our veterans) and all their family members.  They should be very proud of the efforts they’ve made; I know I am.

“Thank you for the work you’ve all put in, despite the undoubted pressures I know every NHS trust is under at the moment. Welcoming them into the Veterans Covenant Hospital Alliance is a major step towards our aim of ensuring every NHS trust in the country is Veteran Aware.”

You can read the full statement here.